Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance has been buzzing for a couple of days now. Everyone was wondering if he’d perform his controversial diss track “Not Like Us” directed at Drake. Even though it was censored for FCC purposes, Kendrick still included it in his setlist. Since then, there’s been a ton of artwork and memes popping up on social media.
It’s well known by now that Drake has initiated a major legal battle. This case could change the music industry forever. He’s suing Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.” This lawsuit started in January 2025, and it’s not just about a beef between the two artists. It’s about the limits of artistic freedom, censorship, and how music works in the digital world.
The current lawsuit escalated from pre-action petitions filed by Drake in November 2024. He accused UMG of manipulating streaming statistics for Lamar’s diss track. This manipulation, he says, damaged his reputation and financial interests.
The legal claims brought by Drake are defamation, deceptive business practices, racketeering, and harassment. Drake alleges that the song contains statements that defame him. He also claims UMG used bots and payola to artificially inflate streams. Next, Drake accuses UMG of a pattern of racketeering, or criminal activity. Last, Drake alleges the promotion of “Not Like Us” has led to security and safety concerns.
A win by Drake could lead to financial compensation in the millions or billions. It could also lead to an injunction (court order) stopping the alleged manipulative practices. The win could also help with contract negotiations and lead to Drake’s legal costs and fees being covered. However, there may be other consequences outside of those listed in the lawsuit.
If Drake were victorious in this legal battle, several significant implications could arise. A victory for Drake might mean artists and labels become more cautious, leading to self-censorship to avoid similar lawsuits. Music labels may be tasked with regulating their artists’ music, especially when there is a dispute between artists. This case could influence how rap beefs or diss tracks are legally viewed. Artists might become more cautious about lyrical content. This could potentially end rap battles and hip-hop as we currently know it.
The above would then cause there to be a limitation on artistic freedom. Music could possibly be limited to a specific formula, certain topics and expressions, which would limit creativity for any artist. It could create a fear of litigation to the point that artists are less bold or critical. The storytelling aspect of hip hop may be limited to facts. No embellishments, exaggerations, or fiction. Imagine taking away fictional movies and replacing them all with documentaries. This could be the new hip hop.
Only time will tell how this all plays out. However, we have to prepare for its effects. The music industry and music fans are on alert for how this might change the creativity and future of music.
BIRDCITYVIEW 