Judge Grants Drake Access to Kendrick Lamar’s Contracts in Defamation Case

A court has ruled in favour of Drake, allowing him to access sensitive record company documents, including Kendrick Lamar’s recording contract, in his ongoing defamation case.

Drake is suing Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation over Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” which he claims spreads a “false and malicious narrative” that he is a paedophile.

The court’s decision, made by Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on Wednesday, April 2,  grants Drake’s request for documents, including “all contracts between UMG and Kendrick Lamar” and information on salaries and bonuses for senior executives at UMG.

Drake’s lead lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, welcomed the decision, saying, “Now it’s time to see what UMG was so desperately trying to hide.”

UMG had objected to the request, citing the “costly and time-consuming” process of gathering the “commercially sensitive” information as an “undue burden.”

The case is the latest development in Drake’s long-running feud with Kendrick Lamar, which escalated last year with a series of diss tracks.

In court documents, Drake claimed that UMG knew Lamar’s lyrics were false but “continued to fan the flames” of the controversy for profit.

UMG responded, saying, “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 label also accused Drake of trying to “silence” Lamar’s creative expression and seeking damages from UMG for distributing the song.

A hearing on UMG’s motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for June 30.

BBC