Take The Stand! UMG Wants To Subpoena Drake &…
The civil lawsuit filed by Drake against Universal Music Group (UMG) is underway, with both sides now submitting lists of potential witnesses. In a transfer that’s raising eyebrows across the industry, UMG has notably referred to as for both Drake and his most up-to-date rival, Kendrick Lamar, to testify in court during Drizzy’s “Not Like Us” civil lawsuit.
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Drake initially filed his lawsuit against UMG in January 2025, accusing the music giant of knowingly defaming him. His criticism facilities on Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss observe, “Not Like Us,” which famously refers to Drake as a “child predator.” Drake alleges that UMG not only distributed this tune but also promoted it through “illegal means.”
UMG, for its half, has vehemently denied these claims, asserting that the notion they’d “seek to harm the reputation of any artist — let alone Drake — is illogical.” They have also been actively pushing for the choose to dismiss the case solely. Despite their efforts, the lawsuit continues to transfer ahead.
“Plaintiff, one of the most successful recording artists of all time, lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated,” UMG’s lawyers write in the filing. “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.”
The legal chess match intensified on Monday, July 14. According to XXL Mag, both sides introduced their lists of people who may doubtlessly be subpoenaed to testify. Drake’s legal staff submitted a sprawling record of 63 people and entities, signaling a wide-ranging inquiry into how “Not Like Us” gained traction and its influence.
UMG Civil Lawsuit: The Witness List Showdown
Drake’s in depth record of potential witnesses consists of the rapper himself, as properly as prime industry executives such as UMG CEO Lucian Grange, Interscope advertising and marketing president Steve Berman, and Republic Records CEO Monte Lipman. His legal staff is also in search of data from main streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, YouTube, SoundCloud, and TikTook. Furthermore, entities related to Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show efficiency, such as the NFL and Roc Nation, are also on Drake’s radar. Drake’s attorneys are seemingly aiming to uncover any alleged “covert tactics to promote the Defamatory Material.” Notably, Drake’s staff has listed Kojo Menne Asamoah, whom they declare used such techniques, but they’ve been unable to find or serve him despite hiring non-public investigators.
In stark distinction to Drake’s in depth record, UMG has filed a significantly shorter record containing just 9 names. However, the inclusion of two particular names on UMG’s record has captured everybody’s consideration: Drake himself and Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar’s supervisor, Anthony Saleh, is also named. This transfer is especially important because Lamar shouldn’t be listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.
UMG’s attorneys argue that Lamar “is likely to have discoverable information concerning the creation of the recording, image, and video and the distribution and promotion of the recording and video.”
The legal groups’ methods trace at a high-stakes courtroom showdown. While Drake claims the lawsuit is about UMG profiting from “dangerous misinformation” and “artificially inflat[ing]” the tune’s recognition, UMG maintains Drake is solely “weaponiz[ing] the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression” after “losing a rap battle.”
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