Drake responded to Common Music Group’s warning after he amended the authorized criticism in opposition to the company behemoth to incorporate Kendrick Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present.
Throughout the intermission of that NFL championship recreation in February 2025, Lamar carried out the blockbuster traditional, “Not Like Us,” the observe that served because the loss of life knell to Drizzy of their consequential and historic rap beef in 2024.
After Drake amended his criticism, UMG issued a stern admonition, saying, “Watch out what you would like for,” in accordance with Music Enterprise Worldwide, which obtained the assertion.
UMG claims that Drake has no probability to win this case
Drake initially filed the complaints in courts in Texas and New York in the summertime of 2024, claiming that UMG colluded with Spotify to spice up the numbers of “Not Like Us” far past its international attain. Drizzy has since eliminated Spotify as a defendant within the case. On Tuesday, April 15, Drake amended the criticism to incorporate the NFL championship recreation’s halftime present that was seen by greater than 110 million folks.
UMG subsequently responded vehemently to the Canadian celebrity’s authorized maneuver.
In full, the UMG assertion reads:
“Drake, unquestionably one of many world’s most completed artists and with whom we’ve loved a 16-year profitable relationship, is being misled by his authorized representatives into taking one absurd authorized step after one other.
In Texas final November, his counsel instituted a authorized continuing with a lot fanfare and bluster. On Monday, they quietly dropped the case.
In New York in January, Drake’s counsel filed a defamation lawsuit. Afraid of being sanctioned by the court docket for asserting false allegations, tonight they amended the criticism to withdraw them solely so as to add extra baseless allegations.
Two weeks in the past, his representatives celebrated a ‘win’: the granting of a routine discovery movement. That ‘win’ will grow to be a loss if this frivolous and reckless lawsuit just isn’t dropped in its entirety as a result of Drake will personally be topic to discovery as properly. Because the outdated saying goes, ‘watch out what you would like for.’
Each the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and inventive expression. Ought to his authorized representatives senselessly hold the New York lawsuit alive, we are going to exhibit that every one remaining claims are with out benefit. It’s shameful that these silly and frivolous authorized theatrics proceed. They’re reputationally and financially pricey to Drake and haven’t any probability of success.”
Drake responds to UMG’s risk
In a while Wednesday, a spokesperson for Drake despatched rolling out the next assertion in response to UMG’s risk relating to Drake’s amended criticism filed on Tuesday, April 15:
“UMG’s newest assertion is a determined try and spin the narrative and deflect from the reality: Drake is holding the biggest music conglomerate on the planet accountable for its actions and doing so with out worry.
We dismissed the Texas discovery motion as a result of discovery will now proceed in New York. That’s not retreat, that’s victory. UMG dismissed its first modification petition in Texas as a result of it has no declare, that’s dropping. And UMG is aware of the case in opposition to it is just getting stronger.
Drake welcomes discovery and has nothing to cover. It’s not Drake who ought to fear; it’s UMG’s present management. We stay up for listening to from Lucian Grainge, John Janick, and UMG staff beneath oath.
UMG claims to face for creativity, however the truth is exploits it and the artist neighborhood is aware of that. UMG drains artists for its earnings, then discards them. Drake joins a rising refrain of artists elevating questions on UMG’s management. The general public and artists needs to be involved about latest headlines involving UMG’s largest stakeholder that solely reinforces the necessity for transparency all the best way as much as the Board of Director’s stage.
UMG stated, ‘watch out what you ask for,’ Drake is aware of precisely what he requested for: the reality and accountability.”