Drake Sues UMG Over Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance And Grammy Diss Trac

A Rising Legal Battle in the Music Industry

Canadian rapper Drake has officially expanded his legal dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG), asserting that Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show and Grammy-winning diss track were intentionally crafted to harm his image. The ongoing feud between the two rap giants escalated significantly in 2024, and now, it’s making waves in courtrooms.

Drake claims that the high-profile events have amplified public backlash against him, especially after Lamar’s track “Not Like Us” gained widespread traction.

Why Drake Is Suing UMG

According to legal documents filed in a New York federal court, Drake alleges that UMG promoted a false and damaging narrative by endorsing Lamar’s controversial lyrics. The song in question accuses Drake of being a “certified pedophile” and a “predator”—serious allegations that Drake argues are completely baseless and malicious.

The Role of the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards

The lawsuit highlights two significant cultural moments:

The 2025 Grammy Awards, where Kendrick Lamar secured five wins, further boosting his influence.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show, which Lamar headlined just a week later, drawing a record 133.5 million viewers according to The Associated Press.

Though Lamar chose to omit the controversial line during the live Super Bowl performance, Drake’s legal team claims that the overall performance still introduced the defamatory narrative to a broader audience. They argue that these high-exposure platforms caused a surge in streams for “Not Like Us” and allegedly led to increased threats against Drake and his family.

What UMG Has to Say

In response, Universal Music Group filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, characterizing it as nothing more than an effort by Drake to recover from a lost lyrical battle. UMG’s legal team stated that the complaint is baseless and merely reflects the fallout from a public rap feud that Drake didn’t win on the charts.

Internal Industry Tensions: Both Artists Signed Under UMG

Interestingly, both Drake and Kendrick Lamar are signed under the Universal Music Group umbrella, albeit through different record label divisions. This internal rivalry highlights growing tensions in the music business, where diss tracks can spill into legal and reputational battles.

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Legal vs Lyrical War Continues

The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar dispute reveals the complex relationship between music, fame, and defamation law. As Drake continues to fight back legally and Lamar dominates culturally, fans and legal observers alike are closely watching how this battle unfolds—not just on tracks, but in courts.