"The biggest cry baby" - Internet reacts as Drake accuses UMG and Spotify of manipulating Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' streams

Drake's Frozen Moments LLC filed a motion accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of illegally boosting the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us. Citing the court documents filed in a Manhattan court on Monday, November 25, 2024, the Toronto rapper accused them of manipulating streams using bots, payola, and other methods, as per Billboard. He added:

"UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices. It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves."

As news of the lawsuit spread, internet users were quick to call out Drake. One stated:

"Bruh is the biggest cry baby."

A comment reacting to the news (Image via X/ @)

Many questioned why the Hotline Bling hitmaker would not sue for the allegations made in the song. Here are some comments seen under @PopCrave's post on X:

"Drake suing Universal because "Not Like Us" was so popular instead of suing Kendrick for defamation for being PUBLICLY CALLED A P*DOPHILE is the funniest choice of all time," one wrote.

"Notice how he isn’t suing for the allegations," another commented.

Some found the lawsuit ridiculous, criticizing Drake for the same.

"Oh Kendrick definitely won. This is the most wack thing I’ve seen," a user remarked.

"I didn’t think he could get any sadder but he keeps on going," another added.

Others hoped the lawsuit would help curb the manipulation of streaming chart metrics.

"This legal action could set a precedent for how streaming platforms and record labels handle song promotion and chart metrics," one person wrote.

"Y'all calling him a loser, but the real loser is someone who has to use bots to seem bigger than they are," a fan added.

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Drake's filing is not a lawsuit but a "pre-action" petition that could potentially lead to a suit

Drake's motion alleged that UMG violated federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) laws (the RICO statute usually applies to organized crime). It also accused the company of deceptive business practices and false advertising under New York state law.

According to a report by Deadline, the filing is not a lawsuit but could potentially lead to one. Per the documents, the rapper is claiming that UMG, his label, allegedly used music streaming services to carry out their "scheme" to inflate the popularity of Lamar's song.

"(UMG) conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use ‘bots’ to artificially inflate the spread of ‘Not Like Us’ and deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality."

The "pre-action" petition claimed that UMG reduced their licensing rates to Spotify in exchange for the company recommending Not Like Us to its users. It alleged this was done to "maximize their own profits." Citing the motion, Deadline wrote:

"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 p*dophile,' an allegation against Drake."

Further, the filing alleged that Drake repeatedly sought to engage in a discussion with UMG to "resolve the ongoing harm he has suffered," but the label refused. It claimed that UMG insisted it was "not responsible for its own actions."

The petition claimed that the label was "point(ing) the finger" at Lamar.

Both Drake and Kendrick Lamar spent their careers associated with Universal Music Group. Drake, through Lil Wayne's Young Money imprint, and later signing with Republic Records, while Lamar first through TDE and recently through pgLang.

In a statement made to Billboard, a UMG spokesperson denied Drake's accusations. They stated that the claims that the company would do anything to "undermine any of its artists" were "offensive and untrue." It continued:

"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."

Earlier this year, Drizzy and Kendrick were involved in a rap feud, with each artist dropping diss tracks after another aimed at the other's career and private life.

This included the Toronto-native's Taylor Made Freestyle and Family Matters and K. Dot's Euphoria and Not Like Us. Critics believe the latter song won Lamar the beef.

While the feud lost its steam by May, in July Kendrick Lamar dropped the music video for the track. It currently boasts 178 million views and over five million likes.

Kendrick Lamar has not publicly reacted to the development.