Drake’s team claims Universal “artificially inflated” streaming numbers for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

In the new filing – which can be viewed here – Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC has accused UMG and Spotify of “illegally” aiding and abetting “Not Like Us” streams to benefit Kendrick Lamar – who sparked a viral rap feud earlier this year started with Drake.

According to the legal document, UMG is accused of offering Spotify compensation in exchange for recommending the song to Spotify subscribers: “Upon information and belief, in return UMG charged Spotify royalties that were 30 percent below the usual royalties for ‘Not Like Us.’ “Spotify specifically recommends the song to users searching for other, unrelated songs and artists.” UMG said the claims in the court document were untrue.

The dispute is also more focused on UMG and only mentions Spotify in a few cases.

It also alleges that Spotify and UMG failed to disclose compensation, which the document states was made via “wire transfers or mail.” It further alleges that, according to a whistleblower, UMG and Interscope Records “also colluded with and paid currently unknown parties to use ‘bots’ to artificially increase the distribution of ‘Not Like Us’ and deceive consumers into believing it that the song was more popular than it actually was.”

The document also claims that Drake attempted to speak to UMG about the matter, but the label denied responsibility and instead suggested that the Canadian rapper should take “legal action” against Kendrick Lamar.

Later in the document, Frozen Movements LLC claimed that “UMG’s plans to artificially boost the popularity of ‘Not Like Us’ were motivated, at least in part, by Interscope executives’ desire to maximize their own profits.”

The document also indicates that Drake has not sought damages or payment, but instead is requesting that UMG disclose all “documents and communications sufficient to establish the identity of any third party representing UMG, its representatives, or anyone acting in the.” Commissioned by UMG Works” Interscope paid (without public disclosure) for the promotion, publication or endorsement of the song, cover photo or video, including, but not limited to, radio stations, influencers, music platforms and music publications, as well as the Data and methods, and amounts thereof payments.”

It’s also worth nothing that the dispute isn’t technically a full lawsuit. Rather, it was filed as a “pre-action” petition, which under New York law is a process for obtaining information before a formal lawsuit.

A “pre-action” petition does not necessarily include or target the named parties, as Drake’s team requested, if a formal lawsuit is filed at a later date.

In a statement about this Rolling StoneA UMG representative denied the allegations: “The claim that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue.” We apply the highest ethical standards in our marketing and advertising campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this preliminary motion can obscure the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”

Spotify and Kendrick Lamar have not yet responded to the filing. NME has reached out to both parties for comment.

Per The IndependentSpotify has previously said in a similar case that it “invests heavily in automated and manual reviews to prevent, detect and mitigate the impact of artificial streaming on our platform.”

The filing of the document comes shortly after Kendrick Lamar surprise-released the album “GNX” over the weekend. On Sunday night (November 25), Drake appeared on a livestream where he told the chat: “You need facts to take me down. “Fairy tales won’t make it” – possibly in reference to the allegations that emerged from his and Lamar’s rap fight in April of this year.

He also announced his first Australian tour in eight years, starting the same day as Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show on February 9.