Drake is taking a stand, and it’s against none other than Universal Music Group. He’s calling them out for allegedly using questionable tactics to boost the success of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, Not Like Us. According to Drake, the label played a key role in pushing the song’s popularity, and he’s not letting it slide.
If you’ve been following the drama, you know Not Like Us was the talk of the summer. The track took direct shots at Drake, throwing out accusations about his personal life and career. While the rest of us were entertained by the back-and-forth, Drake was clearly not. The diss not only hit his reputation but may have also impacted his business ventures—and now, he’s accusing Universal of being part of the problem.
Here’s where it gets tricky. Drake is signed to Republic Records, which operates under Universal Music Group. Over the years, he’s been one of their biggest earners, reportedly bringing in close to half a billion dollars for the company. That’s no small feat, especially in today’s music industry.
Drake has also used his influence to secure rare deals, including owning the rights to his music catalog—something most artists can only dream of. In 2022, he signed a massive deal with Universal rumored to be worth $400 million. However, insiders suggest Drake wanted an even bigger payout, but Universal wouldn’t budge.
Now, Drake seems to believe Universal might be retaliating. He claims the label backed Kendrick’s diss track as a way to undermine his dominance and slow his momentum. Kendrick, for the record, is signed to TDE and Interscope, which also fall under Universal’s umbrella.
Drake’s argument is simple: after making them hundreds of millions of dollars, why would Universal support a track that damages his image and his earnings? To him, it feels like a betrayal—not just from Kendrick but from the very company that’s benefited so much from his success.
This isn’t just about a diss track anymore—it’s a power struggle between one of the biggest artists in the world and the industry machine. And if there’s one thing we know about Drake, it’s that he won’t back down without a fight. Stay tuned, because this story is just getting started.
Drake is clearly not happy, and honestly, who can blame him? The CEO of Universal Music Group, Lucian Grainge, has seemingly pulled a fast one on him. Drake thought he had real power in the music industry, but this situation has proven that, to people like Grainge, even superstars like Drake and Kendrick Lamar are just employees—no matter how successful they are.
Now, Drake is firing back in the most public way possible. He’s filed a legal petition against Universal, Spotify, and iHeartRadio, accusing them of teaming up to push Kendrick’s track Not Like Us while sabotaging his own success. Critics are calling him a sore loser, saying he’s overreacting to a diss track. But Drake insists this is bigger than music—it’s about the shady ways the industry operates behind the scenes.
Drake claims Universal gave Spotify a discount to prioritize Kendrick’s song, ensuring it topped playlists and artificially inflated its streams. On top of that, there’s a serious accusation that bots were used to fake 30 million streams on day one. This allegation even came with a firsthand account from someone on DJ Akademiks’ show, who claimed they were paid $2,500 upfront to make it happen.
But it doesn’t stop there. Drake says Spotify was actively steering listeners away from his album Certified Lover Boy. According to him, when users asked Siri or Spotify to play his songs, Kendrick’s Not Like Us would play instead. And let’s not forget the payola allegations—Drake is convinced iHeartRadio played Kendrick’s song millions of times in its first week because of under-the-table deals. Even DJ Funk Flex confirmed that some DJs have been accepting pay-for-play arrangements.
Drake’s accusations go beyond just numbers. He’s also claiming that Universal allowed Not Like Us to spread damaging and false rumors about him, including labeling him as a pedophile. But here’s where things get complicated—Drake has thrown his own share of punches. He previously accused Kendrick of being a wife-beater, which was also unsubstantiated. So, is it fair for him to take legal action over lies when he’s done something similar?
Many people think Drake could’ve handled this better. Instead of turning to lawsuits, he might have been better off taking a break, letting Kendrick enjoy the spotlight, and then making a comeback with an undeniable hit. Fans would’ve missed him, and his return could’ve been a moment of triumph.
But instead, he’s chosen to fight—a move that might uncover some ugly truths about the music industry, but also risks alienating fans and colleagues. Drake is walking a fine line. If history tells us anything, it’s that stars who go against the machine often end up paying a price. Whether this fight will cement his legacy or hurt it remains to be seen.
Whenever an artist tries to go up against the system, it almost always ends in disaster. We’ve seen this play out with Michael Jackson. He called out Sony for their shady business practices, accusing them of robbing artists blind. The industry was already uneasy with him, especially because he owned half of the Sony/ATV catalog, which included massive assets like The Beatles’ music rights. Michael had a lot of power, and when he started speaking out against Sony and Tommy Mottola, it was like the industry decided to make him pay for it. His career took a major hit because of it.
Then there’s Prince. He had his own battle with Warner Music, accusing them of controlling his music and ripping him off for the music he funded and created himself. He tried to fight back, but the result was the same—he got blacklisted. Both Michael and Prince were at the top of their game, yet their careers were damaged because they went against the grain.
Now, Drake seems to be heading down a similar road. He’s taking on Universal Music Group, iHeartRadio, and Spotify—three major powerhouses in the industry. It could spell the end of his dominance in the music world. I don’t think he’ll be “done” completely, but things will never be the same. They’re definitely going to try to drag his name through the mud, and it’ll be tough for him to get back to where he was.
Maybe Drake thinks it’s worth it to go to war legally. I do think he has a case, but it’s hard to say how it’s going to play out. Right now, it’s not doing him any favors.
Meanwhile, Kendrick seems to be stepping into the spotlight as the new king. He’s been doing his thing, and the culture is clearly starting to rally behind him. I’m happy for him, but I do wonder if he’ll truly be satisfied with being at the top. Kendrick is super ambitious, confident, and competitive—and I love that about him. But does he really want all the pressure and drama that comes with it?
Kendrick’s already had a lot of success, but he’s had the luxury of taking breaks, focusing on his art, and recharging when he needs to. But now, with the industry pushing him into the position Drake held, things are about to change for him. He’ll have to deal with the pressure of putting out music more frequently, and the public is going to start picking apart his every move, just like they did with Drake.
There’s also talk of a potential beef between Kendrick and Lil Wayne, which could be a mess if it really happens. I really hope they don’t go that route.
This is where Kendrick is now. It’s what comes with being the top guy in the game.
We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out. I genuinely wish the best for both Kendrick and Drake—they’re both incredibly talented and important to the culture.