Photo Credit: Drake by Charito Yap for The Come Up Show / CC by 2.0
After Drake filed his bombshell lawsuit on UMG, speculation over his true intentions has gone rampant online. Is Drake trying to get out of his deal?
When Drake dropped his petitions against Universal Music Group, speculation abounded that he had conceded in his complaints altogether. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The next day, Drake filed a massive defamation lawsuit against the label over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
Many hip-hop fans are unconvinced that Drake can win his case. Even more find the lawsuit against the spirit of hip-hop, where rivalries and diss tracks run rampant. Problems that can’t be solved through lyrical acumen are taken to the streets, not the courts.
Among those critical of Drake’s actions include reaction YouTubers Zias and B Lou, both of whom were mentioned in the Canadian superstar’s lawsuit. According to the filing, YouTubers like B Lou and Zias have benefitted from UMG’s allowing reaction videos to be monetized. Such content naturally brings more attention to Lamar’s song by encouraging creators to react.
In response, Zias alleged that a UMG executive spoke to him about the lawsuit and claimed the artist is simply looking for a way to get out of his deal with the label. But this theory isn’t a new one. And disputing the conjecture proves difficult, given Drake’s focus on UMG — not Kendrick Lamar. The star feels the label purposely tried to undermine his career in order to pay him less when they renew his contract.
Regardless, these are all just theories. Only time will tell how it will wrap up, and things could drag on for quite a long time. Whether the future of hip-hop hangs in the balance remains to be seen, but the case should be a fascinating one to watch, nevertheless.