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Houston-based investor Ian Dunlap has recently revealed a cryptic conversation with one of Drake's friends amid Drizzy's legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG). On November 25, Drizzy's company Frozen Moments LLC filed two pre-action petitions alleging that UMG partnered with Spotify, Apple, and iHeartMedia to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.
The first pre-action petition alleged that UMG used devices like online bots and payolas to hike the streaming numbers of Not Like Us. It also claimed that the music label partnered with Spotify to violate RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations).
The second petition accused UMG of spreading the allegation that Drake was a child predator because of Not Like Us's lyrics. Curiously, UMG distributes the music of both Drizzy and Kendrick Lamar.
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Speaking about the legal drama between the two, Ian Dunlap implored Drake to settle his differences with UMG. He said during an appearance on the Joe Budden podcast episode 782:
"I've talked to people in his [Drake/OVO] camp, I'm worried for him... settle fast both sides... one of his homeboys as like if he goes in a boating accident he don't even like being on boats, pray for him..."
Although other companies have refrained from speaking about the petitions, a UMG spokesperson flatly denied the claims made by Drizzy. He said (via Variety):
“The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
According to a report by XXL, Drizzy's pre-action petitions against UMG and Spotify are scheduled to be heard on January 16, 2025, at the New York Supreme Court.
Fashion Killa author theorizes why Drake filed a pre-action petition against UMG
On November 27, Fashion Killa author Sowmya Krishnamurthy took to X and penned down why she reckoned Drake filed the pre-action petition against UMG. Krishnamurthy talked about Drizzy signing a '360 deal' with UMG reportedly worth $400 million in 2022.
According to Indie Music Academy, a 360 deal is an exclusive contract signed by a music label and an artist that qualifies the label to take a share of the artist's music sales.
Furthermore, the label also gets a cut of the artist's other streams of revenue like TV appearances, merchandise sales, or earnings from live shows and concerts.
As per Krishnamurthy, Drake expected UMG to side with the Canadian rapper over Kendrick Lamar after the 2022 deal. In a now-deleted tweet, she wrote :
"My gut is that he probably expected them to side with him and throw Kendrick under the bus. Now he’s going scorched earth because he can’t believe they wouldn’t."
Furthermore, Drizzy claimed that UMG had paid Apple to 'purposely misdirect users' and open up Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us.
“Online sources reported that when users asked Siri to play the album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ by [Drizzy], Siri instead played ‘Not Like Us,’ which contains the lyric ‘certified pedophile,’ an allegation against Drake,” claimed Drizzy's lawyers, as per Billboard.
According to another report by Verge, the Manhattan court filing by the Canadian rapper's legal team stated that UMG charged Spotify 30% less than their normal licensing rates for Not Like Us.
The legal filings also accused the music record company of paying social media influencers to inflate the streaming numbers of Kendrick Lamar's chart-topper.
"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," Drizzy's legal team asserted.
Amid the legal tug-of-war, Drizzy has announced that the rapper will be touring Australia and New Zealand from February 9 as part of his Anita Max Tour. It will be his first concert in Australia and New Zealand since his Boy Meets World Tour in 2017.
