Drake has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of defamation and harassment in a legal battle filed on Wednesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The rapper claims that UMG orchestrated a malicious campaign through Kendrick Lamar's diss track, Not Like Us, which allegedly spread false and damaging claims about him, particularly portraying him as a criminal paedophile.

In his lawsuit, Drake argues that UMG not only approved and published the track but also launched a campaign to promote it, intending to create public outrage. He contends that the label used various strategies to boost the song’s visibility, including paying unknown parties to artificially inflate Spotify streams using bots.

Drake further claims that UMG worked with social media influencers, including those from the popular NFR Podcast, to promote the song. The lawsuit also points to UMG's removal of copyright restrictions on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, allowing for widespread distribution of the track. Additionally, Drake alleges that popular streamers, such as Kai Cenat, were part of this effort by sharing reaction videos to the song.

The lawsuit includes further allegations that UMG used its influence to manipulate digital platforms, with claims that Apple’s Siri was altered to direct users to Not Like Us, and that radio stations were paid for increased airplay. UMG also reportedly worked with Complex Networks, leading to extensive coverage of the song in over 50 articles.

This legal move comes after Drake withdrew a previous petition against UMG the day before, highlighting the gravity of the allegations. As of now, neither Universal Music Group nor Kendrick Lamar have commented on the lawsuit.