Drake secures court order to obtain Kendrick Lamar’s contract details

Drake has been given permission to access sensitive internal records from Universal Music Group (UMG) as part of his ongoing defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

The rapper had requested documents related to Lamar’s recording contract, as well as salary and bonus details for senior UMG executives. He claims the label defamed him by allowing Not Like Us to be published and promoted, arguing that the track spread a "false and malicious narrative" that he is a pedophile.

UMG previously sought to dismiss the case, calling Drake’s lawsuit an "illogical" attempt to suppress Lamar’s artistic expression. The company also requested a pause in the evidence-gathering process while its motion to dismiss was under review.

However, on Wednesday, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that discovery should continue, allowing Drake’s team to obtain internal company records.

Drake’s lead attorney, Michael Gottlieb, responded to the decision, stating, “Now it's time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide.”

Court filings indicate that Drake's legal team is seeking all contracts between UMG and Lamar, along with financial records detailing executive compensation from 2020 onward. UMG had objected, arguing that compiling the "commercially sensitive" information would be costly and unnecessary, especially given that the lawsuit could still be dismissed.

A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for June 30.

- A feud that escalated beyond music -

Drake’s lawsuit marks a new phase in his ongoing rivalry with Lamar. The two artists traded multiple diss tracks last year, including one in which Drake accused Lamar of domestic abuse.

Lamar responded with Not Like Us, describing Drake and his associates as "certified pedophiles" who should "be registered and placed on neighborhood watch."

Drake alleges in his lawsuit that UMG knew these claims were false but "continued to fan the flames" of controversy for profit. He also accuses the label of conspiring with Spotify to artificially boost streaming numbers for Not Like Us—a claim both companies deny.

UMG, which has worked with Drake for over a decade, rejected the allegations and defended its role in distributing Lamar’s music.

"Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist—let alone Drake—is illogical," the company said in a statement.

The label also argued that Drake willingly took part in the rap battle and was now attempting to "weaponize the legal process" after losing.

Meanwhile, Not Like Us has become the most commercially successful single of Lamar’s career. It topped the UK charts for the first time and gained additional momentum after Lamar performed it during the Super Bowl halftime show in February.