Drake has taken legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of defamation. The lawsuit centers around Kendrick Lamar’s controversial diss track, Not Like Us, which Drake claims UMG actively promoted to damage his reputation.

In a significant legal win for Drake, a judge has ruled against UMG’s request to halt the discovery process. This decision allows the rapper to access Kendrick Lamar’s record deal and other internal UMG documents that could be crucial to his case. The ruling, handed down on Wednesday, dismissed UMG’s argument that the lawsuit was unlikely to succeed and that disclosing such “commercially sensitive documents” would be unnecessary.

Drake’s Legal Team Responds

Following the ruling, Drake’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, told Billboard: “Now it’s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide.” This marks a significant development in the lawsuit, as Universal Music Group has been working aggressively to have the case dismissed. In a recent motion, UMG argued: “Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds.”

Why Is Drake Suing UMG?

Drake’s legal team contends that Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us contained defamatory statements that millions of people interpreted as factual accusations. The track included allegations of pedophilia, which Drake insists were false, harmful, and deliberately amplified by UMG to tarnish his image. According to his attorneys, “UMG completely ignores the complaint’s allegations that millions of people, all over the world, did understand the defamatory material as a factual assertion that plaintiff is a pedophile.”

They further argue that “UMG also ignores [the lawsuit’s claim] that the statements in question (and surrounding context) implied that the allegations were based on undisclosed evidence and the audience understood as much.”

The Impact of Not Like Us

Despite the controversy, Not Like Us became a cultural phenomenon. The diss track dominated streaming platforms and played a central role in Lamar’s public feud with Drake. Kendrick Lamar performed the song at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, further solidifying its impact. The track also won multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.

What’s Next in the Lawsuit?

With the judge denying UMG’s motion to halt discovery, Drake now has the opportunity to dig deeper into the label’s internal dealings. His team aims to prove that UMG intentionally boosted the track’s success to damage his brand. As the case unfolds, fans and industry insiders are watching closely to see how this high-stakes legal battle between one of the biggest rappers in the world and his own record label will play out.