Drake’s legal standoff with Universal Music Group and Spotify has taken a swift turn. On January 14, the rapper quietly withdrew his legal petition against both companies—an action that once accused them of inflating the streaming performance of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” to dent Drake’s own chart presence. Documents from Drake’s Frozen Moments, LLC confirm that the claims have been dropped without any financial settlement from any of the parties.
This marks a notable shift in Drake’s ongoing dispute, which originally alleged that bots, backroom agreements, and even pay-for-play tactics helped artificially skyrocket “Not Like Us” in the streaming arena. Drake further argued that Universal Music Group was complicit in a supposed “defamation” campaign by aligning with the record, which levels heavy accusations against the “God’s Plan” rapper. However, with the legal petition now withdrawn in New York, the only remaining question is the outcome of a similar case still brewing in Texas—where Drake has also named iHeartRadio for its alleged role in fueling the track’s rise on radio charts.
While UMG “reserved its position” on the move and Spotify had “no objection,” reps for all parties have remained tight-lipped about Drake’s decision to back off. Nevertheless, the dissolution of this lawsuit in New York does little to calm speculation over whether the behind-the-scenes drama around “Not Like Us” has simply shifted to a different stage—or if Drake’s surprise exit signals a new strategic direction.
FAQs
- Why did Drake withdraw his legal petition against UMG and Spotify?
Drake voluntarily ended the lawsuit without a financial settlement, but neither side shared the exact reasons for his decision. - What was Drake accusing UMG and Spotify of doing?
He alleged that both companies artificially boosted Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” using bots and payola, hurting Drake’s streaming performance. - Is the legal fight completely over?
The New York case is done, but Drake’s filing against UMG and iHeartRadio in Texas remains active. - What did Spotify say about the allegations?
Spotify denied any wrongdoing and filed an opposition brief dismissing Drake’s claims as baseless. - Who is behind Frozen Moments, LLC?
Frozen Moments, LLC is Drake’s company, which he used to file the original petitions.
