The company of Drake, Frozen Moments, has taken a bold legal step by filing a petition in a New York court against Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG). The accusation? Allegedly conspiring to artificially inflate the streams of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” The track, which dominated Billboard rap charts throughout the summer, is now under scrutiny for the methods behind its record-breaking success.
Drake’s Allegations of Streaming Fraud
According to the petition, Frozen Moments claims UMG orchestrated a strategy to manipulate streams using bots and pay-for-play agreements. It alleges the track was licensed to Spotify at a discounted rate in exchange for increased user recommendations. With over 900 million streams, “Not Like Us” has become a streaming phenomenon, but Drake’s camp insists foul play is at hand. The accusations also suggest UMG paid radio promoters for more airplay and even collaborated with Apple to have Siri redirect users to Lamar’s song.
UMG Responds with Denial
Universal Music Group has strongly refuted the claims, calling them “offensive and untrue.” In a statement, UMG emphasized their ethical practices in marketing and promotion, dismissing the allegations as baseless. The company’s dual association with Lamar’s Interscope label and Drake’s Republic Records adds another layer of complexity to the dispute.
A Longstanding Feud Comes to a Head
The beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been simmering for weeks, with “Not Like Us” serving as a public battleground. Drake’s lyrics have frequently referenced UMG CEO Lucian Grainge, suggesting dissatisfaction with how the label operates. The petition also alleges that UMG terminated employees loyal to Drake during the feud, further intensifying tensions.
What’s Next?
The filing is not yet a lawsuit but a pre-action motion under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This move aims to collect additional information from UMG and Spotify before proceeding with a potential civil case. The feud continues to generate headlines as Lamar releases his new album “GNX,” which contains several references to the controversy.
