50 Cent has weighed in on Drake’s recent legal actions against UMG, believing that the Toronto rap star might be scheming for next year’s Super Bowl halftime show.
Drake filed two pre-action petitions against UMG last month, claiming that the company boosted the popularity of Kendrick Lamar’s diss-record “Not Like Us” with streaming bots and payola. He also claims that the song, being published by UMG subsidiaries Republic Records and Interscope, defamed him by falsely identifying him as a sex offender.
Contrary to the public belief, these petitions are not lawsuits; they are actually legal options to gather evidence prior to suing.
In an interview on Cam’ron’s Talk With Flee YouTube show, 50 Cent speculated that Drake might be trying to stop Kendrick Lamar from performing “Not Like Us” during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
“I’ve never seen a rap battle end up in a lawsuit,” 50 added, “but I thought that was Drake’s camp trying to stop the Super Bowl do any more damage.”
He also suggested that the legal team of Drake could just be pressuring the NFL by linking the issue to Apple Music, the venue’s principal sponsor: “We’ve got this situation over this song. It’s already a pending case; we don’t want you guys to allow that to air [or] you’d be a part of the damages.”
Already edging closer to one of the most watched sporting events in the American calendar and yet litigation attorneys are still active in filing legal documents, it looks like Drake is playing his cards just right in order to influence the way things go with the halftime show lineup, especially if Kendrick Lamar remains part of it.
Tag: Kendrick Lamar
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50 Cent Weighs In on Drake’s Legal Battle with Universal Music Group
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Wiz Khalifa Weighs in on Drake’s Legal Battle with Universal Music Group
Wiz Khalifa has shared his thoughts regarding the way Drake used legal means to make UMG answerable. The Pittsburgh rapper was not quite surprised about Drizzy’s involvement of lawyers.
Wiz spoke on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast about the ongoing tension between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which has recently culminated in a legal showdown.
“‘Bout time,” said the Pittsburgh rapper, referring to the long-term beef, “I’m so tired of [artists] faking like they cool with each other. Just speak up how you really feel, bro.”
As had been reported, Drake allegedly accused UMG of slander and claimed the label made use of payola and streaming bots to enhance Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” On this legal maneuver, Wiz said, “Sounds like a typical move from Drake to me.”
He added, “He’s a musician and businessman, so if he’s not winning musically in the public eye, then he’s going to secure a win wherever he can. It’s actually pretty smart doing it this way. They’re playing the game exactly how they’re supposed to.”
When asked if such a feud could be theater in the industry, Wiz was quick to shoot it down: “Nah, I don’t think they mess with each other at all. The industry is what it is, and now it’s all spilling out.”
Still, he acknowledged the entertainment that rap rivalries provide, likening them to pro-wrestling: “The same people arguing can be cool instantly… It’s like, don’t get too caught up in the animosity; people will be hugging later.” -
Kendrick Lamar Set to Link Up with TDE Family at Annual Christmas Concert
Kendrick Lamar will be back on stage with his former Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label mates for the annual Christmas concert and toy drive that the label hosts. The annual concert is set to take place on Thursday (December 12) in Watts, California.
The first Kendrick public has been in, as a surprise entry, for the surprise drop of his latest album, GNX, last month. His addition was not announced on the original list of performers revealed last month.
Joining Kendrick on stage at an event are TDE heads SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Isaiah Rashad, Doechii, SiR, Ray Vaughn, and Zacari. There will also be more guest artists, but the event poster has yet to reveal their names.
Fans will be glued to the event, anxious to watch Kendrick reconnect with his TDE family for what should be an epic holiday celebration dedicated to music and community. -
Tyler, The Creator Made a Surprise Appearance at Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Pop Out’ Concert
Tyler, The Creator, surprisingly showed up at Kendrick Lamar’s Pop Out concert in June, having no plans in his schedule for that day
Tyler shared this detail in a recent cover article for Billboard on December 11, mentioning that it was the uncommon occurrence of having FOMO (fear of missing out) that made him appear without notice. “Actually, I wasn’t even supposed to go-I was in Atlanta working on this album,” he said. “But I landed that morning and couldn’t miss this. And I don’t even get FOMO at all-I’ll just go to sleep. But I’m cool with Kenny, Dave [Free], and Tim [Hinshaw] from Free Lunch. So I went home, showered, and ran straight there.”
Although it wasn’t a complete set, Tyler thrilled the crowd with two songs, including the 2019 hit “Earfquake.”
The bucketload of surprises this year came for Odd Future star when his newest release, Chromakopia, dropped. This project, which is deeply personal and comes highly star-studded, includes some of the best and brightest in the industry. Dominating all charts, it spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and over 500,000 of its copies were sold just a month after its release.
Of course, it wasn’t all just glitter but did earn Tyler the number of his first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits, “St. Chroma,” which climbed to number seven, and “Noid,” which made it onto the number 10 spot. He also continued his almost unbreakable streak with the collaborative single “Sticky,” which features talented Rhythm and Blues artists GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne; climbing up to number 10 last month. -
Drake’s Legal Battles Against UMG Over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Set for Key Court Dates
Drake’s ongoing legal tussle with UMG over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is drawing closer to major court dates scheduled for December and January
As per court documents obtained by HipHopDX, a Texas court would probably entertain Drake’s petition on December 20 although the hearing would chiefly decide whether the deposition of persons from iHeartRadio and UMG regarding possibly illegal activity surrounding the release of Kendrick’s diss song could be ordered.
In another proceeding in New York, a ruling would be delivered by a judge on January 16, 2025, on whether documents or messages regarding the promotional activities for “Not Like Us” must be preserved by Spotify and UMG. The petition, filed on November 25 in Manhattan, accuses UMG of illegal methods which included bots and payola to artificially boost the song’s success.
Drake’s attorneys claim UMG waged a campaign to manipulate the streaming services and radio stations, including the paying of Spotify to ghost to users seeking unrelated music, and by using Apple’s Siri to redirect Drake fans to “Not Like Us” instead of his own tracks. According to the suit’s allegations, through bots inflated the song’s streaming numbers. -
Pusha T Takes Jabs at Drake Following Legal Action Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track
Pusha T fired back at Drake following the Canadian rapper’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
Pusha T once again took shots at Drake after that Canadian rapper’s legal action against Universal Music Group for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
Pusha later discussed an interview with Ari Melber about being a topic in Kendrick’s diss-track “Euphoria” during an appearance at Miami Art Week. He advised that Kendrick was warning Drake that he would have to deal with Pusha before coming after Kendrick.
He went on to hail Kendrick’s depth in lyricism by saying, “Kendrick is the kind of lyricist that talks to your soul. You can be cute about saying clever things, but the truth really hurts and hurts deep.”Next, he referred to Drake’s legal move against UMG, implying that Kendrick’s fiery powerful lyrics were part of the impetus of the lawsuit. “I think that would make you tap out, that would probably make you sue… it’s crazy,” Pusha stated.
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Kodak Black Calls Out Drake for Letting Kendrick Lamar Beat Him to a Collaboration
Kodak Black criticized Drake for not making enough effort to collaborate, while rival Kendrick Lamar gets the opportunities
Kodak Black aired his grievance against Drake today for apparently not trying hard enough to work with him, particularly with rival Kendrick Lamar snagging such opportunities from him.
In a recording made by a friend, the outspoken rapper vented his feelings about Drake, whom he accused of addressing him as his best rapper while Kodak questioned, “It don’t make no sense that Kendrick Lamar beat you to it.”
Kodak also mentioned that he appeared on Kendrick’s 2022 album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, asserting that it made sense for Drake to do what he said, especially in sending cash, instead of working with him. -
Kendrick Lamar and SZA Add More Dates to Grand National Tour, Including Extra Shows in Toronto and Los Angeles
Kendrick Lamar and SZA have extended their Grand National Tour, adding more dates, including a second night in Drake’s hometown of Toronto
Kendrick Lamar and SZA have expanded their Grand National Tour, adding more dates, including a second night in Drake’s hometown of Toronto. Originally set for 21 shows, the tour now includes 23 stops, with the additional Toronto date on June 13 and a third night in Los Angeles on May 24.
The tour kicks off on April 19 in Minneapolis and concludes on June 18 in Landover, MD, with stops in cities like Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Chicago. Tickets are available on the tour’s official website.
The Toronto shows will be held at the Rogers Centre, marking Kendrick Lamar as the first rapper to headline the venue, previously known as the SkyDome.