Drake’s legal battle with UMG heats up as judge allows discovery
Drake’s legal team have been granted discovery, and their demands aim to leave UMG with nowhere to hide.
Drake’s legal team have won a major milestone in the ongoing defamation dispute between the rapper and his own label, Universal Music Group (UMG). The presiding judge has ruled that discovery can move ahead, a decision made during a pre-trial conference. This marks a turning point in the defamation case, which has been gradually intensifying over the las few months.
We’ve covered this dispute a lot as it has progressed, so won’t retread old ground. To briefly summarise, UMG had requested to delay the discovery process while their motion to dismiss the lawsuit was still pending. However, the court rejected this request, siding with Drake’s legal team, who argued that discovery should proceed without delay. This means Drake’s team can now obtain key documents from UMG that may be critical to the case.
Michael Gottlieb, Drake’s lead attorney, expressed confidence in the ruling, stating: “Now it’s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide.”
Drake and his lawyers have been pushing for extensive documentation from UMG. As of March 2025, their discovery demands, as listed by Digital Music News, include:
- “All contracts and agreements between” UMG and Kendrick Lamar
- All documents and communications concerning UMG’s “Not Like Us” release approval
- All “Not Like Us” communications from Interscope marketing exec Ramon Alvarez-Smikle
- All documents and communications regarding “the payment and reimbursements of discretionary marketing funds for the benefit” of Lamar and/or his team
- All documents and communications pertaining to “Not Like Us” payola allegations (or payola claims about any other Lamar tracks)
- All details about UMG’s “actions or contemplated actions” involving the “Not Like Us” copyright restrictions
- “Documents sufficient to show” UMG’s policies and procedures for enforcing copyright restrictions on third-party platforms
- All UMG’s documents and communications with the Grammys/Recording Academy about “Not Like Us”
- All documents and communications “relating to the selection and licensing of” “Not Like Us” for the Super Bowl halftime show, including for “any and all decisions proposed, contemplated, or made with respect to whether to omit or censor any lyrics or other content”
- Detailed accounts of “Not Like Us” streams and views “on all platforms,” including social services
- Documents revealing “the executive compensation structure and annual incentive plans” for Interscope CEO John Janick during the past half-decade
- Additional details about Interscope’s broader executive-incentive metrics
- Documents and communications about UMG’s “litigation hold notices”
- All documents and communications about the attack on Drake’s Toronto home
- All documents and communications about “Not Like Us” promotion on Spotify and Apple Music
- Any documents and communications involving “concerns” about the content of “Not Like Us”
- Documents demonstrating exactly how much UMG spent producing “Not Like Us”
- Documents identifying UMG’s monthly marketing spend for “Not Like Us”
These demands shed light on the scope of Drake’s lawsuit and the potentially damaging information UMG may be required to disclose.
With discovery now moving forward, the coming months could reveal crucial details about UMG’s dealings and its relationship with some of the biggest names in the music industry.
