Who is Matte Babel? Drake's co-manager posts Red Button lyrics amid accusations against UMG

Drake's long-time friend Matte Babel took to Instagram on November 26, 2024, to post lyrics of Drizzy's 2023 track Red Button amid the rapper's accusations against Universal Music Group. Matte Babel is the Chief Brand Officer of Drizzy's management company and entertainment group- Dream Crew. His role is to oversee projects like NOCTA which is a sub-label of Nike.

According to a report on Babel by PEOPLE dated May 21, 2024, he used to be a host for Canadian cable specialty channel MuchMusic, a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight Canada and a co-host on CP24 Breakfast before he became the rapper's co-manager.

X user @realalmightee posted a screenshot of Matte Babel's Instagram story showcasing he posted Red Button's lyrics stating:

"Everyone was good with me, then everyone expression faded/ Tickin' time bomb and they beggin' me to detonate it/ If I press this red button, dog, everybody Heaven Gated/ Press this red button, dog, and everything forever changes"

Apart from the professional front, Matte Babel has been in a relationship with Pretty Little Liars fame Shay Mitchell since 2017. The duo shares two daughters; Atlas Noa and Rome.

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"UMG chose to do the opposite": Drake's lawyers mention in rapper's second legal filing against the music company

According to a report by CBS News, Drake's company Frozen Moments LLC filed a petition in a New York court on November 25, 2024. The petition alleged Universal Music Group and Spotify of conspiring to artificially increase the streams of Kendrick Lamar's diss track Not Like Us which accuses Drizzy of being a p*dophile.

In the filing, the rapper claimed that UMG launched a campaign to manipulate Lamar's track's streaming services and airwaves via pay-for-play agreements and bots. The rapper's petition also accuses UMG of using paid radio promoters to enhance airplay and paying Apple to have Siri misdirect users to Kendrick Lamar's diss track.

As per Billboard's report dated November 26, 2024, Drake's Frozen Moments LLC filed another action in a Texas court mentioning radio company iHeartRadio in addition to UMG. While the previous legal action accused UMG of falsely boosting streams of Lamar's track, the second petition accuses the music company of defamation for releasing Not Like Us, knowing the diss track comprised allegations of Drake being a s*x offender.

The second petition claims that UMG "funnelled payments" to iHeartRadio in furtherance of a "pay-to-play scheme" resulting in the diss track being promoted on the radio. Additionally, Drake's lawyers mentioned that UMG was aware of Kendrick Lamar's allegations against Drizzy in Not Like Us but they released the track regardless.

In the petition, Drizzy's lawyers mention:

“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."

The rapper's lawyers also stated:

"UMG designed, financed and then executed a plan to turn ‘Not Like Us’ into a viral mega-hit with the intent of using the spectacle of harm to Drake and his businesses to drive consumer hysteria and, of course, massive revenues. That plan succeeded, likely beyond UMG’s wildest expectations.”

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Drake's petition is a pre-action motion, not a lawsuit. It is filed to secure more information from Spotify and UMG for a civil claim under RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act).

Additionally, in a statement to The Guardian dated November 26, 2024, a spokesperson for UMG denied the rapper's claims. The spokesperson said that the music company won't do anything to undermine its artists, dubbing Drizzy's allegations as untrue and offensive.