Drake escalates legal battle against UMG by demanding Kendrick Lamar's contract

"Not Like Us" is Drake's Achilles' Heel

The legal battle between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG) is experiencing a new twist. The Canadian rapper is now asking to see the recording contract of Kendrick Lamar, a request that pushed UMG to seek the intervention of a federal judge to block any discovery procedure.

According to documents obtained by Billboard, the legal team of Drake seeks access to "highly commercially sensitive documents," including not only Lamar's contract, but also details of executive compensation.UMGThe label calls these requests unjustified and is trying to have them rejected.

Michael Gottlieb, lawyer of Drake, said:

"This motion is a tactic by UMG to avoid producing documents they hope to keep hidden. If UMG has nothing to hide, discovery should not be an issue."

This escalation comes shortly afterUMG has requested that Drake's initial complaint be dismissed. The label claims the rapper "lost a self-inflicted rap battle" and that his complaint is "completely without merit."

Gottlieb refutes this interpretation: " UMG tries to reduce this to a simple rap battle to distract from the real issue: a company profiting from dangerous misinformation that has already led to acts of violence."

Despite the efforts ofUMG to slow down the procedure, the judge Jeanette Vargas maintained the preliminary hearing on April 2 and authorized the start of the discovery phase.

This case could have significant repercussions for the music industry, shining a spotlight on major label practices and artist rights. It also raises questions about transparency in the contracts of high-profile artists like Kendrick Lamar.

As the conflict escalates, the hip-hop industry and fans eagerly await further developments in this legal battle that promises to redefine the relationship between artists and labels in the digital age.

A story to follow!

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