Drake seems to think there's some shadiness behind Kendrick Lamar's monster hit, "Not Like Us" ... and he's filed legal docs to investigate how it got so big.
via: Daily Mail
Drake chose to sue Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's hit diss track, Not Like Us, over fears that his rap rival could perform the song at next year's Super Bowl, DailyMail.com can reveal.
The Canadian rapper, 38, stunned fans this week when he filed legal documents against the label who he accused of using illegal methods to promote Kendrick's smash-hit, in which he is referred to as a 'certified pedophile.'
Drake alleged that the music monolith implemented the use of 'bots and a payola scheme' in its efforts to push the single, which was released this past May, according to TMZ Hip Hop.
The Grammy-winning hitmaker claimed that information provided to him from an 'inside source' indicated that UMG breached FCC statutes in engaging in the practice of payola.
Now, insiders have revealed that Drake was also concerned about the song being further amplified when Kendrick, 37, headlines the Super Bowl LIX Halftime show in February.
'Drake is concerned Kendrick will perform Not Like Us at the Super Bowl,' a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'Universal bosses are shocked that Drake is suing them, and some people suspect the lawsuit is an attempt to stop Kendrick from performing Not Like Us at the event.'
Despite the intense nature of the legal action being taken, the insider noted that the UMG does not currently have plans to cut ties.
'The label has no intention of ending its professional relationship with Drake over this,' the source insisted.
It was confirmed in September that Kendrick will perform at the season's NFL showpiece in New Orleans, on February 9.
A second source claimed the Humble hitmaker was growing frustrated by the assumptions that his upcoming halftime show would be focused on his rap rival.
'People are trying to pigeonhole Kendrick into making his Super Bowl performance all about Drake,' they said.
'He has toyed with a few surprises including asking Drake and Lil Wayne to be a part of it. But he is starting to rethink that and just make the performance something for him and him only.
'He believes he deserves it and he doesn't need to offer an olive branch to anyone.'
When Kendrick was announced, fans were in uproar as they were rooting for Lil Wayne to be given the chance as he hails from New Orleans.
Days later, Wayne released a video to confirm his 'hurt' and told fans: 'I'mma say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and the support out there. Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.
'I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown and for automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position. But I thought there was nothing better than that spot and that stage and that platform in my city, so it hurt.'
With the surprise release of his new album, GNX, last week, Kendrick addressed Wayne's disappointment on his track, wacced out murals.
'Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down / Whatever though, call me crazy, everybody questionable / Turn me to an esk---, I drew the line and decimals,' he raps in the second verse.
He then added: 'Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulated me / All these n****s agitated, I'm just glad they showin' they faces'.
Drake filed the legal papers Monday in Manhattan via his Drake's Frozen Moments LLC, claiming UMG breached state law in its conduct, specifically the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The legal filing Drake submitted is considered a 'pre-action' under state law, which calls for a probe prior to a full suit being filed.
The First Person Shooter performer, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, claimed UMG made 'covert payments' to many organizations, including radio stations, to play and plug the diss track aimed at him, TMZ reported.
Drake said in legal docs that UMG has a checkered past in regards to payola, also referred to as 'pay for play.'
His legal team said in court docs that '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.'
Drake said that an insider told him that UMG executives also authorized the spending of funds on bots to boost Not Like Us's Spotify totals, garnering 30 million streams.
The rapper also named Spotify in the legal filing, according to Billboard.
According to the filing, UMG brass also paid influencers to push the single and allegedly ignored enforcing copyright requirements via social media, in an effort to make the track go viral.
The Family Matters vocalist - whose own music is distributed via UMG - said that one goal in filing the lawsuit was to audit the label in their alleged payments to iHeartRadio and its affiliates.
Drake told the court that details in regards to that issue could be the foundation of a civil fraud and racketeering suit against UMG and their collaborators.
He said the facts he can already prove could support a defamation lawsuit against UMG.
Drake has long been affiliated with UMG, through subsidiaries such as Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records.
Kendrick has also been with UMG throughout his career, via the companies Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope, in addition to his own communications firm pgLang.
Drakes legal team noted that UMG in May of 2006 paid a $12 million fine to the New York State Attorney General to settle a probe in to whether the company had used payola tactics to boost the music of artists.
Among those UMG paid to promote 18 years back included artists such as Ashlee Simpson, Brian McKnight and Nick Lachey, among others, authorities in New York said at the time, Variety reported.
A spokesperson for Universal Music Group told Dailymail.com in a statement: '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.'
Not Like Us broke several chart records after spending 21 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot Rap songs chart, and enjoying 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart - where it reached number one twice.
It has hit over 914 millions plays on Spotify while it is tied for third place on the Rap Streaming Songs chart.
Comments