The lawsuit, first filed by Drake in January 2025, was viewed by E! The news story accused the label of conspiring to “artificially inflate” the popularity of “Not Like Us” through paid plans and bots. The document also claimed that the song “cleverly hides dangerous lyrics behind a catchy beat and appealing hook” and “unjustly accuses Drake of being a pedophile.”
These claims are also reflected in a November 2024 pre-litigation petition obtained by E! news.
Drake’s lawyers accused UMG of violating the Racketeers Act (RICO), which is commonly used in cases involving organized crime. They also accused UMG of deceptive business practices and false advertising, as well as providing “financial benefits” to “third parties who promote and play the songs and videos without disclosing their payments.”
The petition claimed that UMG’s “plan” was motivated “at least in part by Interscope executives’ desire to maximize their company’s profits.”
Drake’s legal team claimed in its filing that it has reached out to UMG to resolve the issue.
“UMG has demonstrated that it does not intend to assume responsibility for its wrongdoing,” the filing alleges. “Over the past several months, Mr. Drake has repeatedly sought to involve UMG in discussions to resolve the ongoing harm he has suffered as a result of UMG’s actions. UMG has refused to engage in negotiations and has asserted that UMG is not responsible for its actions.”
