Drake’s legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track, “Not Like Us,” is reportedly undergoing significant changes. While the Toronto superstar has been vocal about his issues with the track and its impact, new reports suggest he may be walking back some of his initial claims.

According to an exclusive report from AllHipHop, Drake has allegedly agreed to remove certain allegations from his federal defamation lawsuit against UMG. For those unfamiliar with the dispute, Drake initially accused UMG—both his and Kendrick Lamar’s distributor—of artificially inflating the streaming numbers for “Not Like Us,” damaging his reputation with false narratives, and even putting his safety at risk. UMG has strongly denied these accusations and dismissed them as baseless, arguing that they would not hold up in court.

Legal Maneuvers and UMG’s Motion to Dismiss

In response to Drake’s lawsuit, UMG filed a motion to postpone the pretrial conference, which was originally scheduled for April 2. The label intends to submit a motion to dismiss the case altogether by March 17. If that motion is successful, the April 2 pretrial conference would no longer be necessary.

Court documents reportedly obtained by AllHipHop indicate that lead defense attorney Rollin A. Ransom claims Drake has “agreed to withdraw certain key allegations in his complaint.” Furthermore, UMG’s legal team argues that Drake’s camp has yet to submit the necessary document requests for discovery, which could indicate a weakening stance in the lawsuit.

What Could Be Behind Drake’s Shift?

As of now, it remains unclear which specific allegations Drake is dropping, as these details have not been officially confirmed by his legal team. This move, however, raises speculation among fans and analysts alike regarding his motivation. One potential reason could be that Drake’s claims of a commercial setback due to the controversy are difficult to substantiate.

Despite the drama surrounding “Not Like Us,” Drake has continued to see success in his own right. His collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 249,000 units. This suggests that his commercial standing remains strong, making it harder to argue that UMG’s alleged actions severely impacted his career.

A Strategic Retreat or Legal Realism?

Whether Drake’s decision to alter his lawsuit is a strategic legal move or a sign of reconsideration remains to be seen. Some speculate that he may have realized his claims lacked sufficient evidence to hold up in court, while others believe this is simply a calculated step in a broader legal strategy.

Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, Drake remains focused on his music. He recently hinted at a new solo album in the works, calling his recent releases merely a “warmup” to his next big project, according to DJ Akademiks. Fans are left wondering whether this upcoming project will include any references to the legal battle or if he will quietly move past the controversy.

For now, all eyes remain on how this legal dispute unfolds. Will Drake continue to pursue his case against UMG, or will this gradual retraction of claims signal an eventual settlement? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s rivalry continues to shape the hip-hop landscape in unexpected ways.