Drake Takes Legal War to New Level, Suing Music Industry Giants Over Kendrick Lamar Diss Track
Written by b87fm on 08/18/2025
Drake has escalated his battle with the music industry establishment, filing an explosive lawsuit against Universal Music Group and Interscope Records executives, claiming they orchestrated a coordinated campaign to destroy his reputation using Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us.”
The Allegations
The Canadian superstar, born Aubrey Drake Graham, has named over 20 high-profile music industry figures in amended court filings, accusing them of defamation, harassment, and deceptive business practices. Drake alleges these defendants employed “covert tactics” to artificially amplify Lamar’s track, which he claims was specifically crafted to damage his public image and derail his career.
The lawsuit paints a picture of an industry conspiracy, with Drake claiming executives secretly coordinated efforts to push “Not Like Us” into mainstream consciousness while simultaneously undermining his own artistic output.
Industry Power Players Named
Drake’s legal crosshairs target some of the music industry’s most influential figures, including:
- Sir Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group
- John Janick, CEO of Interscope Records
- Jody Gerson, CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group
- Monte Lipman, CEO of Republic Records
- Jesse Collins of Roc Nation
The complaint also targets numerous marketing and promotion executives, including Ramon Alvarez Smikle (Interscope’s digital marketing chief), Steve Berman (president of marketing at Interscope), and several influencer marketing specialists who allegedly helped spread the diss track across social platforms.
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Super Bowl Controversy
Perhaps most damaging to Drake’s case is his claim that the conspiracy extended to Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance of “Not Like Us.” Drake specifically calls out Vincenza Conticchio, Interscope’s video and creative content commissioner, for allegedly facilitating both the licensing and live broadcast of the track during one of America’s most-watched television events.
This allegation suggests Drake believes the music industry’s most powerful players used the Super Bowl’s massive platform to deliver a coordinated public humiliation.
Financial Consequences
Court documents filed Monday reveal Drake is seeking significant financial compensation, including “statutory and actual damages in an amount to be determined at trial based on expert opinion and analysis, plus treble damages and attorneys’ fees.”
Under New York General Business Law Section 349, successful plaintiffs can receive triple damages, potentially making this lawsuit worth millions if Drake prevails.
Industry Shakeup
The lawsuit represents an unprecedented challenge to the music industry’s power structure, with one of its biggest stars directly accusing label executives of sabotaging his career. If proven, Drake’s allegations could expose how major labels manipulate public opinion and artist rivalries for commercial gain.
The case also raises questions about the authenticity of hip-hop feuds and whether what appears to be organic artist-to-artist conflict is actually manufactured drama designed to boost streaming numbers and cultural relevance.
For an industry already grappling with streaming economics and artist compensation issues, Drake’s lawsuit threatens to pull back the curtain on some of the music business’s most closely guarded operational secrets.
