Universal Music Group (UMG) has rejected new claims from Drake’s legal team alleging that its UK chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge was aware of and involved in a plan to defame the Canadian rapper through Kendrick Lamar’s diss track. Drake’s lawyers had demanded UMG hand over Grainge’s communications, but the label has dismissed this request as baseless.
The dispute stems from Lamar’s 2024 track Not Like Us, which contains lyrics implying Drake has inappropriate relationships with minors. The single’s artwork also features Drake’s home marked with symbols used to identify registered sex offenders. Drake denies these allegations and sued UMG (parent company of his label Republic Records) in January, arguing the label promoted a song falsely portraying him as a criminal. UMG initially called the lawsuit “completely without merit.”
In recent court filings, Drake’s team suggested Grainge played a role in marketing the track. UMG’s lawyers fired back, calling this a “transparent attempt to harass” the company and waste its resources. They stated Grainge had never heard the song before its release and emphasized that as CEO of a global corporation, he doesn’t oversee individual track releases.
UMG’s legal team added that Drake previously agreed not to seek documents from Grainge and argued there’s no legitimate reason to involve him now. They described Drake’s motion as absurd, suggesting it implies “he could only have lost a rap battle due to some high-level corporate conspiracy.”
The label is pushing to have the case dismissed entirely, maintaining that diss tracks are a recognized art form involving exaggerated insults, and allowing Drake’s lawsuit to proceed would stifle artistic expression. Drake has not yet responded to UMG’s latest filing.
The Guardian has reached out to Drake’s representatives for comment.
FAQS
### **FAQs About Universal Denying Lucian Grainge’s Involvement in Kendrick Lamar’s Drake Diss Track**
#### **Basic Questions**
**1. Did Universal Music Group’s CEO, Lucian Grainge, help Kendrick Lamar with his Drake diss track?**
No. Universal Music Group has denied any involvement by Lucian Grainge in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track aimed at Drake.
**2. Why would people think Lucian Grainge was involved?**
Some fans speculated that because Kendrick is signed to UMG’s Interscope Records, Grainge might have had a role—but UMG has clarified this isn’t true.
**3. What exactly did Universal say about this?**
Universal denied the claims, stating that Grainge had no personal involvement in the creation or release of the diss track.
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#### **Intermediate Questions**
**4. Could a CEO like Lucian Grainge influence rap beefs between artists?**
While label executives can shape business decisions, direct involvement in personal artistic disputes is unlikely and would be seen as unprofessional.
**5. Has Universal ever interfered in artist conflicts before?**
There’s no public evidence of UMG executives directly meddling in rap beefs. Labels typically focus on business, not personal disputes.
**6. Why would Universal deny this so strongly?**
To avoid unnecessary drama, legal risks, or the perception of corporate interference in artists’ creative expression.
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#### **Advanced Questions**
**7. Does Kendrick Lamar need label approval to release a diss track?**
Artists usually have creative freedom, but major releases may require label clearance for legal or sample clearance reasons—not for content.
**8. Could there be legal consequences if a CEO was involved in a diss track?**
Possibly. If defamation or contractual violations occurred, the label could face liability, which is why UMG would distance itself.
**9. How do record labels typically handle rap beefs between their artists?**
Labels usually stay neutral unless business interests are at risk. Most conflicts are left to the artists.
**10. Where did the rumor about Grainge’s involvement start?**
Likely from fan theories or exaggerated speculation online, with no credible sources backing the claim.
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