Wiz Khalifa is the latest artist to share his thoughts on Drake‘s legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify.
Drake recently accused UMG of defamation, alleging that the company enabled the release of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” which he claims falsely accuses him of being a sex offender. In his legal petition, Drake’s lawyers argued that UMG could have blocked or altered the track but instead chose to amplify its reach.
“UMG designed, financed, and executed a plan to turn “Not Like Us” into a viral mega-hit,” the filing states, accusing the label of profiting from Drake’s harm to drive consumer hysteria and revenue.
Appearing on Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe, Wiz Khalifa expressed little surprise at Drake’s decision to pursue legal action. “That’s a Drake move,” Khalifa remarked. “He’s a musician and a businessman. If he’s not winning in the public eye musically, he’s going to find another way to win. It’s smart, in my opinion.”
The feud between Drake and Lamar has escalated in recent months through a series of diss tracks, but Drake’s court filings mark an unusual turn for hip-hop, where disputes rarely spill into legal arenas. Filed on November 25 in Manhattan, the first petition from Drake’s Frozen Moments LLC accuses UMG of orchestrating a “scheme” to manipulate streaming platforms and airwaves using bots, payola, and other tactics to make “Not Like Us“ go viral.
“UMG did not rely on chance or ordinary business practices,” Drake’s attorneys wrote.
Instead, the company allegedly ran a targeted campaign to dominate the digital landscape with the song. Drake’s legal team also accused UMG of violating federal RICO laws, typically associated with organized crime, as well as engaging in misleading business practices and false advertising under New York state law. The allegations paint a picture of a calculated effort to harm Drake’s reputation while boosting Lamar’s visibility.
The court battle highlights the high stakes of their rivalry, which has captivated fans and industry insiders alike. While legal action is a rare development in hip-hop feuds, it has drawn commentary from several celebrities, with Khalifa among the first to applaud Drake’s strategy. As the dispute heads to court, it underscores how modern rap battles increasingly intertwine music, business, and legal maneuvering.
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