Drake Accuses Universal Music Group and Spotify of “Illegally” Boosting Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”

Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC has filed a legal complaint in Manhattan court alleging that Universal Music Group and Spotify manipulated streams of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” through bots, undisclosed payments, and biased recommendations. Drake’s attorneys claim that UMG engaged in deceptive pay-to-play practices and false advertising under New York state law, detailing instances of alleged manipulation, including influencer payments and Siri re-direction tactics to promote the song. The documents also suggest that UMG may have silenced employees who spoke out against these practices. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains popular, while Drake’s response single “Family Matters” charted at No. 7. (Pitchfork)