Drake Initiates Legal Battle Over 'Sex Offender' Allegation in Kendrick Lamar's Track

In a new chapter of his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, Drake has contested the portrayal of himself as a "sex offender" in Lamar's track "Not Like Us," leading to legal measures against Universal Music.

Drake has taken a bold stand against Universal Music, filing two legal actions within a matter of days over Kendrick Lamar's controversial hit "Not Like Us." The Canadian rapper alleges that the song, released amid an escalating feud with Lamar, wrongfully labels him a "sex offender." Drake's legal team contends that Universal could have prevented the song's release, yet chose instead to amplify its reach for profit, condemning their method of turning the incendiary lyrics into a "viral mega-hit."

In a parallel move, Drake had previously filed a petition in New York, accusing Universal of manipulating the song's visibility on Spotify. Universal has fiercely disputed these allegations, describing them as "offensive and untrue," asserting that their promotional strategies adhere to the highest ethical standards.

The latest legal motion, similar to the prior filing, serves as a "pre-action petition," which allows Drake’s attorneys to request that the court mandate Universal conserve essential documents ahead of potential further legal action. This time, the filing took place in Texas and names iHeartRadio, a major player in U.S. radio, known for operating over 850 stations.

Drake's legal counsel emphasizes that "Not Like Us" garnered more than 25 million plays on iHeart stations in just four months, suggesting that covert payments may have been made to promote the song in a "pay-to-play scheme." Although they lack confirmation of these payments, they assert that iHeart, being a predominant audio company, would likely be involved.

Should the court grant the petition, it would compel both Universal and iHeartRadio to produce evidence related to these allegations. In the documents, further claims state that Universal was aware the lyrics falsely branded Drake as a "certified pedophile" and a "predator," yet opted to release the song.

The track is recognized as a significant blow in the ongoing rivalry, having debuted at number one on the U.S. charts and earning four Grammy nominations, including song of the year. In response, Drake released "The Heart Part 6," where he refuted claims of sexual misconduct and hinted at espionage with Lamar, but later retracted the track from his social media.

Both artists have similar licensing arrangements with Universal, which continues to be at the center of this escalating conflict in the hip-hop world.