Chatter Goes Into Overdrive Following Drake’s High-Profile UMG Lawsuit — Is Drake Finagling His Way Out of a His Contract?

After Drake filed his bombshell lawsuit against UMG, speculation over his true intentions has gone rampant online. Is Drake trying to get out of his deal?

When Drake recently dropped his petition against Universal Music Group in New York, many thought that the parties had reached a resolution. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In short order, Drake filed a massive defamation lawsuit against the label over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

Now, the question is where this litigation goes next. UMG issued a blistering blowback to the lawsuit, though there’s just one problem: the mega-label could face some serious defamation charges. And fighting the case could take years — while putting one of their biggest artists on the bench and keeping a negative lawsuit in the media.

Over in hip-hop corners, many fans are unconvinced that Drake can win his case. This clearly isn’t a ‘street’ move: according ot every law of ‘the culture,’ problems that can’t be solved through lyrical acumen are taken to the streets, not the courts. The whole thing goes against the spirit of hip-hop, where rivalries and diss tracks run rampant, though Drake has found supporters — including Funkmaster Flex and Jim Jones, among others.

Among those critical of Drake’s actions include reaction YouTubers Zias and B Lou, both of whom were mentioned in the Canadian superstar’s lawsuit. According to the filing, YouTubers like B Lou and Zias have benefitted from UMG’s allowing reaction videos to be monetized. Such content naturally brings more attention to Lamar’s song by encouraging creators to react.

In response, Zias alleged that a UMG executive spoke to him about the lawsuit and claimed the artist is simply looking for a way to get out of his deal with the label. But this theory isn’t a new one. And disputing the conjecture proves difficult, given Drake’s focus on UMG — not Kendrick Lamar. The star feels the label purposely tried to undermine his career in order to pay him less when they renew his contract.

Regardless, these are all just theories. Only time will tell how it will wrap up, and things could drag on for quite a long time. Whether the future of hip-hop hangs in the balance remains to be seen, but the case should be a fascinating one to watch, nevertheless.