Drake Retracts Allegations Against UMG and Spotify Over Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track

Drake has officially pulled back his complaint accusing Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) of unlawfully amplifying Kendrick Lamar's diss track titled 'Not Like Us.' Documents submitted on Tuesday to the New York Supreme Court confirm that the pre-action proceedings have been dropped without incurring any costs for the involved parties.

This 'pre-action case' is an early stage in litigation intended to gather information from the involved parties and provide an opportunity to resolve issues before they escalate into a full-blown court case.

In November, Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, claimed that Spotify and UMG—the parent company for both his and Kendrick Lamar's labels—employed methods like automated accounts ('bots'), reduced licensing rates, and pay-to-play deals to unnaturally boost the track's streaming figures. The diss track, directed at Drake, gained massive traction and viral status after a public spat between the artists last year.

Ongoing Legal Action: UMG and iHeartRadio Still Facing Claims

Drake filed another legal claim in November, accusing UMG of using payments to iHeartRadio to promote Lamar’s diss track. According to Drake’s legal team, the track derogatorily characterizes him as a 'certified pedophile,' a 'predator,' and someone who should be under neighborhood surveillance, which they argue is defamatory. They contend that UMG should have refrained from releasing such damaging material due to its potential harm to Drake's reputation.

Although the primary pre-action case against Spotify and UMG has been settled, the additional claim targeting UMG and iHeartRadio persists. Spotify previously contested the initial petition but has not challenged Drake’s decision to retract it. Meanwhile, UMG had not contested but has opted to 'reserve its stance.'