Drake Goes to War: Drops 63-Name Witness Bomb in Explosive Lawsuit Against UMG

In a bombshell legal maneuver that’s rattling the music industry, Drake has submitted a list of 63 witnesses in his high-profile defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG). The lawsuit, filed earlier this year, centers on UMG’s alleged role in amplifying the reach and cultural impact of Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims was used to damage his reputation on a global scale.

The track, which labeled Drake a “certified pedophile,” exploded across streaming platforms and became an anthem of the feud between the two rap titans. But behind the bars and beats, Drake is now accusing UMG of taking things far beyond artistic competition—alleging a coordinated corporate attack designed to ruin his image.

According to court documents obtained this week, the witness list includes several major industry figures, such as Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge, Top Dawg Entertainment executive Dave Free, and Kendrick Lamar’s manager Anthony Saleh. Also named are executives from Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and TikTok, as well as individuals connected to Roc Nation, the NFL, and FOX Sports.

Interestingly, Kendrick Lamar himself is not named as a witness in the filing. This move suggests that Drake is focused less on his longtime lyrical rival and more on the massive infrastructure he believes supported and weaponized the viral diss.

Drake's legal team is also requesting internal data from streaming giants—such as playlist placements, algorithm boosts, and backend analytics—to determine whether “Not Like Us” was given preferential visibility. The lawsuit argues that UMG and its partners manipulated digital platforms to amplify the song’s reach, knowing it would provoke a storm of controversy at Drake’s expense.

What’s more, the case extends into sports entertainment. Drake is calling for records and communications related to the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, where Kendrick Lamar performed the diss track in front of millions. By pulling in organizations like the NFL and FOX, Drake is painting a picture of what he believes was a carefully orchestrated, multimedia smear campaign.

This lawsuit has the potential to reshape how the music industry treats diss tracks in the age of streaming and algorithm-driven exposure. It also raises ethical questions about how far labels and media partners can go in promoting controversial content—especially when real reputations are on the line.

As of now, neither UMG nor Kendrick Lamar’s camp has commented on the newly released witness list. Insiders expect a long, high-stakes courtroom showdown that could change the power dynamics in hip-hop and entertainment at large.

For Drake, this isn’t just about clapping back with another track—it’s about clearing his name in court and taking control of the narrative once and for all.

Image: Drake at Bun-B Concert 2011- The Come Up Show by  thecomeupshow is licensed under CC BY 2.0