Drake’s Sour Grapes: Claims of Kendrick Stream Inflation Hit a Bum Note
The Toronto Rapper’s Legal Swipe at Universal and Spotify Reeks of Desperation
Drake isn’t taking his latest L lightly. The Canadian megastar, fresh off being lyrically dismantled by Kendrick Lamar in the incendiary diss track “Not Like Us,” has filed a lawsuit accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of manipulating streams to boost Lamar’s track. According to court documents, Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC alleges a web of “illegal” tactics—bot-driven plays, shady influencer campaigns, and Siri foul play—to cement Lamar’s single as a chart-topping success.
Ironically, Drake signed a 360 deal with UMG in 2022 for $360 million. Get it? 360 for $360,000,000? That’s the type of super-sly bullshit that led to Drake losing the lyrical battle with Lamar in the first place. Lamar, on the other hand, uses UMG for distribution only. Drake’s claim makes zero sense. Why would UMG promote “Not Like Us,” a lyrical bitch slap that accuses UMG’s cash cow of being an A Minor enthusiast, a shameless culture vulture, and more?
“UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” Drake’s attorneys wrote in the filing. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.” The accusation: UMG violated racketeering laws, paid influencers, and strong-armed tech platforms into prioritizing Lamar’s diss track over anything with Drake’s name on it—including, bizarrely, Drake’s own album Certified Lover Boy.
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This isn’t just a war of words. Drake’s team is seeking documentation to expose a laundry list of alleged underhanded tactics, including reduced licensing fees to Spotify for overpromoting “Not Like Us” and UMG’s purported use of bots to inflate streams. The most eyebrow-raising claim? That UMG paid Apple to trick Siri into playing Lamar’s diss when fans asked for Drake’s album.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Drake. “Not Like Us” shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May and shows no signs of budging. Lamar’s GNX, surprise-dropped last week, is earning rave reviews and likely to dominate year-end lists. Meanwhile, Drake’s tepid response track, “Family Matters”, limped to No. 7—a performance his detractors have gleefully mocked online.
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Critics are calling the lawsuit a sore-loser move, with fans labeling Drake’s legal tantrum a transparent bid to reclaim a narrative he lost the moment Lamar spat the line, “Certified Lover Boy?/Certified pedophile.” While Drake’s lawyers paint UMG as the villain, Lamar’s fans are calling foul on what they see as petty theatrics.
UMG hit back with a fiery statement, dismissing the claims as “contrived and absurd” while asserting that its promotional practices are above board. “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” a spokesperson said.
Kendrick Wins, Again
Drake’s latest album, For All the Dogs, dropped October 2023 to mixed reviews, failing to reach the critical heights of his past work. By contrast, Lamar’s GNX is being hailed as a creative and commercial triumph.
If anything, this lawsuit underscores the shifting tide in hip-hop. Drake, once untouchable, now finds himself trying to litigate his way out of a losing streak. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar is proving that in the court of public opinion—and on the charts—there’s no substitute for genuine artistry. Plus, Drake remains corny. Let’s add sore loser to the list of labels.
