Drake Turns Up the Heat in Explosive Lawsuit As UMG Tries To Shield Lucian Grainge

Drake has escalated his legal battle against Universal Music Group (UMG), filing two aggressive motions on August 12, 2025, demanding access to the company’s most closely guarded secrets — including an unredacted copy of Kendrick Lamar’s recording contract and the private files of CEO Sir Lucian Grainge.

The filings accuse UMG of shielding Lucian Grainge from scrutiny in a defamation case over Lamar’s chart-topping diss track Not Like Us. Drake’s lawyers allege Lucian Grainge was directly involved in the song’s promotion and understood its potential to harm Drake’s reputation.

Citing Grainge’s own past statement — “A single lie can destroy a reputation of integrity… it can be ruined in five minutes” — the motion argues the CEO knew how damaging the track could be.

The Apex Executive Battle

UMG has invoked the “apex custodian” doctrine to block access to Lucian Grainge’s communications, claiming he had “no meaningful involvement.” Drake’s team counters that courts routinely allow discovery from high-level executives who have unique personal knowledge of relevant facts. They also note UMG has refused to search Grainge’s files, offering shifting justifications without evidence.

The Blacked-Out Kendrick Lamar Contract

When UMG turned over Kendrick Lamar’s contract in June, Drake’s lawyers found it “virtually unreadable” due to heavy redactions. They suspect hidden clauses may reveal UMG’s editorial control over songs and videos — a detail that could support their claims of intentional defamation. Despite a protective order already in place, UMG continues to block full disclosure.

Drake’s Legal Team Fires Back at UMG, Accuses Label of Exploiting Artists

Following the Money

Drake’s legal strategy also targets UMG’s internal label competition, arguing that executives at Interscope (Kendrick Lamar’s label) had financial incentives to see Kendrick Lamar’s success at Republic Records’ expense (Drake’s label). His team is seeking detailed compensation records, revenue reports, and catalog valuations to prove a profit motive behind promoting Not Like Us.

Hip-Hop’s Corporate Chess Game

The case highlights a long-running reality in hip-hop — behind public rap beefs, label executives often have as much at stake as the artists themselves. From the East Coast–West Coast rivalry to 50 Cent vs. Ja Rule, corporate interests have shaped the battlefield. But this time, the executives themselves could be dragged directly into the legal spotlight.

Why UMG Will Fight Hard

For UMG, losing this discovery fight could set a precedent, forcing top music executives to open their emails, contracts, and compensation structures in future disputes. For Drake, winning it could be a turning point not just in this feud, but in how record labels handle potentially defamatory music in the future.

If the court sides with Drake, the music industry may see a new era where diss tracks carry not only cultural shockwaves — but legal ones, too.