Universal Music Group CEO Fires Back at Drake

The legal dispute between Universal Music Group (UMG) and rapper Drake continues to rumble on. In a recent letter submitted to the southern district of New York, UMG CEO Lucian Grainge fired back at Drake’s claims, describing them as "farcical", "nonsensical", and "unfounded".

Background of the Dispute

At the beginning of this week, Drake’s legal team made a move to secure more documents in connection with UMG’s relationship with Kendrick Lamar. Drake’s team asked the court to force UMG and Grainge to hand over the label’s contract with Lamar, as well as information about allegations of domestic violence and other suspected crimes committed by the California rapper.

Grainge’s Response

In his declaration letter, Grainge made it clear that he was not involved in the release and promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s song "Not Like Us". He also wanted to emphasize that UMG did not try to devalue Drake’s brand. Grainge pointed out that UMG has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake, including long-standing financial support for his recording, the purchase and ownership of the majority of his records, and the promotion of his music.

UMG’s Investment in Drake

Grainge highlighted the significant investment UMG has made in Drake’s career, stating that it would not make sense for him to be involved in a scheme to devalue Drake’s brand. He noted that UMG is a global company with operations in over 60 countries, and its strategy is focused on supporting its artists, not undermining them.

Absurd Claims

Grainge ended his letter with a strong statement, saying that he had nothing to do with "Not Like Us". He emphasized that he had not even heard the song or seen its cover art or music video before they were released by Interscope Records. UMG’s lawyers submitted a separate letter, calling Drake’s application a "transparent attempt" to use discovery to harass and waste UMG’s time and resources.

UMG’s Lawyers Respond

The letter from UMG’s lawyers added that the premise of Drake’s application is "absurd", suggesting that he could not have lost a rap fight unless there was a secret conspiracy involving UMG’s top executives. The lawyers pointed out that Grainge is the CEO of a multinational enterprise, and his days are spent implementing global strategy, not individual tracks or recordings.