Overview

• In a sworn declaration to the Southern District of New York, Grainge affirmed he had no role in approving or promoting ‘Not Like Us’ and only became aware of its content after its May 2024 release.
• UMG lawyers told the court that Drake’s motion to force Grainge to produce emails and texts is a transparent attempt to harass the label and should be denied as legally unjustified.
• Grainge highlighted that UMG has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Drake’s career, including ownership of his recording catalog and publishing rights, making any scheme to devalue him illogical.
• Drake’s defamation lawsuit alleges UMG approved and monetized Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, which he says falsely portrayed him as a pedophile and led to real-world threats.
• The case remains active in the Southern District of New York as UMG presses motions to dismiss and the parties dispute the scope of executive‐level discovery.