Drake’s legal team has filed new motions compelling Universal Music Group (UMG) to release CEO Sir Lucian Grainge’s internal communications and Kendrick Lamar’s unredacted record contract as part of an ongoing lawsuit over UMG’s promotion of Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’. The filings allege UMG deliberately promoted defamatory content against Drake while withholding crucial evidence.
**Who**: The parties include Drake (Aubrey Graham), his legal team led by attorney Michael Gottlieb, Universal Music Group (UMG), CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, and UMG subsidiaries Republic Records (Drake’s label) and Interscope Records (Kendrick Lamar’s label).
**What**: New court motions filed August 12, 2025 demand UMG produce: 1) Unredacted versions of Lamar’s Interscope contract; 2) Emails/texts from CEO Grainge regarding ‘Not Like Us’; 3) Financial records showing profits from the song; and 4) Documentation of UMG’s past content censorship decisions. UMG has refused, claiming Grainge had ‘no meaningful involvement’ and citing confidentiality.
**When**: The motions were filed August 12, 2025, building on a lawsuit originally filed in June 2025. A hearing on UMG’s motion to dismiss the case is pending before Judge Jeannette Vargas.
**Where**: U.S. District Court (Southern District of New York).
**Why**: Drake alleges UMG breached contractual duties by actively promoting Lamar’s track containing unverified allegations (including calling Drake a ‘certified pedophile’). The motions argue UMG sought to ‘devalue Drake’s brand’ ahead of contract negotiations and that Grainge encouraged competition between UMG labels.
**How**: Drake’s team cites evidence of Grainge’s approval authority over major releases and references an alleged email stating: ‘We need to push this record. It’s going to bury Drake.’ They also compare UMG’s promotion to its alleged censorship of Pusha T’s 2018 Drake diss track.
**Impact**: The case could redefine label obligations during artist conflicts, potentially mandating neutrality clauses in contracts. UMG faces reputational risk if internal communications reveal bias, while Drake seeks to clear his name amid ongoing damage from the allegations.
**What’s Next**: Judge Vargas will rule on UMG’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. If denied, hearings on the evidence motions will proceed, with potential trial exposing sensitive industry practices.