UMG lawsuit esclates: Drake names 63 potential witnesses in defamation case against Universal Music Group

Drake has started a big fight with his lawsuit against Universal Music Group. He claims they helped spread Kendrick Lamar's harsh song Not Like Us. This song called him a "certified pedophile."

What makes this court case even bigger is the large number of people who could be called to speak in court. New papers show Drake's team could call up to 63 people and companies to stand if it goes to trial.

These papers, according to Billboard, say big music names might be asked to speak. People like UMG boss Sir Lucian Grainge, head of publishing Jody Gerson, and Interscope's John Janick might tell what they know.

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Streaming giants and industry insiders named in Drake's lawsuit

The list includes big names in streaming and social media, like Amazon Music, Apple, Spotify, TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram. This shows that the probe might dig deep into if the song's hit status was fixed in secret.

Though filed on June 2, it only came out on July 14. This hints at a tough face-off that not many in the field would like to see happen fully, due to the private deal details it could pull into the open.

The number of names drawn into Drake's new court case goes way past just the people at Universal Music Group. His list includes big names like UMG's head, Sir Lucian Grainge, who Drake says knows all about the claims he's making.

Also named are big players like Dave Free, who used to lead Top Dawg Entertainment, and Anthony Saleh, the manager of Kendrick Lamar, yet Lamar himself is not on the list.

It's noteworthy to say that Drake's legal action has not hit Kendrick Lamar with any bad word claims, and it looks like Kendrick won't need to speak in court.

Instead of going after his rap foe, Drake is looking at the big gears in the back, the companies and big names he thinks played a big part in spreading and making money off things he thinks hurt his name.

Court papers show claims that Universal Music Group and others might have used quiet ways to raise and gain from the hot talk.

Read More: “I don’t tell nothin” - Pusha T denies leaking viral Kanye West texts, claims he knows who did it instead

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Drake's lawsuit targets tech giants, social platforms, and big brands

Besides going after people, Drake's legal group is also tackling big tech and media firms. They want Amazon Music, Apple, Deezer, SoundCloud, Spotify, and TIDAL to show how UMG might have spread bad stuff and messed with its reach out of sight.

Even big names like TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram show up in the papers, along with big brands like the NFL, Fox, and Roc Nation, all tied to the last Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show.

By pulling in so many names, Drake looks set on showing what he names as sneaky ad tricks and taking on the mixed-up ties between big music firms, online spots, and big events with stars.

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UMG's witness list relies on Drake and Kendrick Lamar

When looking at Universal Music Group’s (UMG) list of people who may speak in court, they have chosen fewer names than their rival, with just nine individuals so far. It's worth noting that two big stars, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, are on this list.

UMG's legal team says Kendrick Lamar knows a lot about how songs, videos, and ads were made and shown to the world. By picking famous people like Drake and Lamar, UMG shows they might depend a lot on what these artists say about how they create and promote their work.

This shorter yet smart list shows that the label wants to keep things on point. They might use big stars to make their case about who owns and shares stuff, all while keeping court mess to a low.

Read More: “Keep up the incredible work” - Rakim shows love to Kendrick Lamar for shout-out on The Clipse’s new track ‘Chains & Whips’

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What do the netizens say?

Online, as news of Drake's lawsuit witness list got out, it has led to a lot of talk and has caught the eyes of many on different social sites. People on social media have been busy posting news bits, video clips, and court papers, which keep this topic alive and well-talked about.

Many users have pulled together timelines and shared words linked to the case, as news places and fan pages push to keep up with any fresh info that comes up. This non-stop online buzz has kept the topic hot and made sure that the witness list gets a lot of looks as the court moves ahead.

"Why is there even a suit???," a user asked.

"I'm blaming the goofy who brought a diss song into court documents," another user commented.

"Kendrick as a witness is funny asf," a user wrote.

Some other people commented:

"Anybody not tryna fight kill or file lawsuit after being called a pdf to win a rap battle ,and have dat song performed in front of 133m ppl ..might actually be hiding something. “let me be quiet and go away for awhile so I don’t stir anything up and dis dude really snitch," a user commented.

"Wow, 63 witnesses is wild! Wonder what @DavidSmithX1 thinks about this – seems like Drake’s pulling out all the stops. Missing Kendrick on the list is kinda sus though," another netizen expressed.

"If you take your time to read you will understand that Drake is not suing over a diss song he is suing a fraudulent company!," a user wrote.

So, this is how the netizens have reacted.

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Drake's Iceman teases new era amid legal fight

Drake's ongoing battle with Universal Music Group has brought a new twist to the build-up of his album Iceman, which he's been working on in the background.

On July 4th, he let fans have a first real look at what he's planning with the track What Did I Miss?, a song that stirred talk not just with its words but also hinted at how he feels after his long fight with Kendrick Lamar, a fight that took over the news all through 2024 and changed how people view both artists.

Iceman will be his first solo full album since For All the Dogs came out in 2023. Even though Drake has started to share bits and vague studio news on social media, he has not shared the exact date it will come out.

So far, he's just said he'll drop it by 2025's end, making fans guess if the court case might slow it down or shape the album's story. Right now, whispers grow about surprise guests and music style changes, making Iceman a hot topic in the hip-hop world.

Read More: “This fallout is hilarious” - Netizens react as Drake seemingly disses LeBron James at Wireless Festival

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