'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The internet is buzzing after the announcement that music industry giant Drake has taken legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), with widespread reactions and discussions across social media. The rapper has accused the company of defamation for Kendrick Lamar's hit track Not Like Us.
On November 27, 2024, DJ Akademiks shared a clip featuring Agent 00, or Din Muktar, reacting to Drake's pre-action petition against UMG.
In the video, Agent 00 expressed his hope that UMG would lose the petition, stating that the company might claim copyright over some of his videos if they were to win. Akademiks captioned the video with the same remark as made by Agent 00
Subsequently, several users on X suggested that industry insiders are rallying behind Drizzy, with many expressing that the rapper is "saving the industry."
Trending
"Drake is saving the industry," one commented.
Moreover, some users on X reflected on Drake's petitions, noting that while the first petition was understandable, the second raised confusion for many. Additionally, some users expressed the view that UMG is primarily motivated by financial gain.
"The first lawsuit I was like...ok...maybe...but the defamation lawsuit...I don't know how Drake stans will defend that, but they will. Suing a record label for defamation in a rap beef might be the weakest move in rap beef history," a user on X commented.
"UMG is money hungry. Reaction channels were high-key promoting these artists by reacting to them and in return they claimed their videos," another stated.
"YT's [copyright] policy is poorly designed," one more commented.
Meanwhile, some users on X expressed an understanding of Agent 00's sentiments, and others remarked that the music industry feels dull without Drizzy.
"I completely understand how he feels," a user on X commented.
"Music is just boring without Drake," a second commented.
"The music industry is a plantation, just like Kanye said. UMG is gonna have @Drake looking like this," one user reacted with a video of Trump, referencing his presidential win.
As of now, neither Agent 00 nor Drizzy have commented on the reactions online or responded to DJ Akademiks' tweet.
Drake files two pre-action petitions against Universal Music Group
On Monday, November 25, 2024, Drizzy's firm, Frozen Moments LLC, filed a pre-action petition seeking information, including documents and communications, from UMG and Spotify related to Lamar's Not Like Us.
The petition alleges that the companies used unlawful methods, such as bots and payola, to boost the song's reach artificially.
Furthermore, the petition claims that UMG charged Spotify 30 percent less than its usual rates for licensing the song Not Like Us. Additionally, the petition asserts that UMG and Spotify failed to disclose any compensation that they received for boosting the reach of Kendrick Lamar's song. As per The Verge's November 26 report, the petition read:
"UMG charged Spotify licensing rates 30 percent lower than its usual licensing rates for "Not Like Us" in exchange for Spotify affirmatively recommending the Song to users who are searching for other unrelated songs and artists."
It further read:
"Neither UMG nor Spotify disclosed that Spotify had received compensation of any kind in exchange for recommending the song."
Furthermore, as per Billboard's November 26 report, Drizzy's legal team filed another petition against UMG on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. This petition alleges that the company promoted a song (Not Like Us) that falsely accused the Canadian rapper of being a s*x offender.
As per the petition, despite having the option to either refrain from promoting or remove the defamatory content, UMG chose not to take action, which prompted Drizzy's legal team to file a defamation case.
"UMG … could have refused to release or distribute the song or required the offending material to be edited and/or removed. But UMG chose to do the opposite. UMG designed, financed and then executed a plan to turn ‘Not Like Us’ into a viral mega-hit..." Drake's lawyers wrote.
According to Billboard, a UMG spokesperson denied all allegations and described the claims as offensive.
Currently, Kendrick Lamar has not made any public statement regarding the matter.
