UMG Calls Drake Lawsuit Illogical

Today Canadian rapper Drake filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Universal Music Group in Federal court for distributing Kendrick Lamar's culture shifting Drake diss track, "Not Like Us [click here if you missed that]." 

UMG calls Drake's argument illogical...

From Variety

In response, a UMG spokesperson said: “Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist — let alone Drake — is illogical. We have invested massively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success.

“Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth ‘rap battles’ to express his feelings about other artists. He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.

“We have not and do not engage in defamation — against any individual,” the statement concludes. “At the same time, we will vigorously defend this litigation to protect our people and our reputation, as well as any artist who might directly or indirectly become a frivolous litigation target for having done nothing more that write a song.”

In the documents, Drake claims that UMG knew that Lamar’s lyrics and images in the song’s music video, were false and dangerous, and that it “chose corporate greed over the safety and well-being of its artists. In controversy,” it continues, “UMG saw an opportunity, seized it, and continued to fan the flames.”

Although Lamar’s lyrics are at the heart of the lawsuit, it clearly places the blame on Universal for releasing, distributing and promoting the song: “This lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us,’” it suit reads. “It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous.”