Drake vs UMG: Latest Lawsuit Updates & Hip-Hop Community Reactions (Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us”)

Where the Case Stands

In January, Drake sued UMG in federal court over alleged defamation and endangerment tied to Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” UMG has denied any wrongdoing. The case has since moved into a tense discovery phase, with Drake’s team seeking internal emails and texts, including from senior executives, and more complete versions of Kendrick Lamar’s recording agreements. UMG has pushed back on scope and relevance.

Rapper Pusha T gave so much commentary about Drake’s case against UMG Recordings, it prompted Drake’s attorneys to inquire about the claims made.

Throughout May 2025, Pusha T went on a press tour blabbing to anyone who would listen that UMG requested he make changes to his… pic.twitter.com/CJ3PRlCVWt

— The OVO Docket (@OVODocket) August 13, 2025

New on August 13, 2025: Drake’s lawyers argue that UMG leadership had meaningful involvement in the promotion of “Not Like Us,” an assertion UMG disputes according to The Guardian.

Timeline of Key Legal Moves

• Nov 2024: Pre-action filings target UMG/Spotify/iHeart around “Not Like Us.”
• Jan 2025: Drake files federal defamation suit against UMG in New York; Kendrick Lamar is not named as a defendant.
• Feb–Mar 2025: Drake settles his Texas petition with iHeartMedia; dismissal is with prejudice. iHeart says no payments were exchanged and documents showed it did nothing wrong.
• Spring–Summer 2025: Discovery fights intensify over internal UMG communications, executive correspondence, and contractual records tied to Kendrick Lamar.
• Aug 13, 2025: New filings highlight competing narratives about UMG leadership’s role in promoting “Not Like Us.”

UMG Recordings has provided Drake’s legal team with Kendrick Lamar’s 22-page recording contract however, UMG Recordings provided it with most of the information redacted and unreadable.

Drake’s legal team plans to request that the Court order UMG to produce the version of the… pic.twitter.com/VqEUyhz72m

— The OVO Docket (@OVODocket) August 12, 2025

How the Hip-Hop Community Is Reacting

Joe Budden & JBP

On his podcast, Joe Budden framed Drake’s legal turn as damaging optics within hip-hop’s battle tradition. He expressed disappointment—“I’m sad, I’m hurt, I’m disappointed”—and argued the moves risk blunting the impact of Drake’s music in the current climate.

Charlamagne Tha God

On air and online, Charlamagne Tha God has questioned the wisdom of taking a diss record fight to court, characterizing the strategy as contrary to rap’s culture of resolving disputes through music. In one clip, he needles the rationale with a jab akin to, “Because you lost?”

Fans & Forums

Across social platforms and hip-hop forums, many fans echo that sentiment: litigation feels like a departure from the competitive norms of battle rap. The community discourse often frames the case as a free-speech question—how literally courts should treat rap lyrics and how much labels should police content.

What to Watch Next

1. Discovery scope: Whether Drake’s team gains wider access to executive communications and less-redacted contracts could shape leverage for both sides.
2. Speech vs. defamation: Expect arguments about artistic expression and how courts interpret lyrical content.
3. Industry fallout: The case tests the boundaries of label obligations when two marquee artists clash under the same corporate umbrella.