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In a defamation lawsuit, Drake has accused Universal Music Group (UMG) of going out of their way to promote Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us by removing copyright from the track. This move allowed popular YouTubers and Twitch streamers to react to and republish it without facing penalties. Typically, the use of songs from record labels in YouTube videos and Twitch streams results in DMCA strikes and copyright takedowns.
The lawsuit also claims that Not Like Us is defamatory on several grounds. The 13th paragraph of the introduction specifically accuses UMG of allowing Twitch streamers and YouTubers to use the song without copyright restrictions.
A relevant portion of the document reads:
"UMG took the unprecedented step—contrary to its internal practices—to remove the Recording’s copyright restrictions on YouTube and Twitch, thereby “whitelisting” the Recording to ensure content creators would republish it broadly."
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Not Like Us went viral after its release on May 4, 2024. Popular streamers such as Pokimane, Ludwig, and xQc were among the many content creators on Twitch and YouTube who openly reacted to Kendrick Lamar's diss track against Drake.
Twitch star Kai Cenat even faced backlash after being accused of throwing gang signs while listening to the song during a broadcast and later had to apologize.
Drake's defamation lawsuit against UMG lists YouTubers and Twitch streamers who reacted to Not Like Us for content
Over the last couple of years, Twitch streamers and YouTubers have become integral parts of the hip-hop and rap scene. Many popular artists, including Offset, Playboi Carti, Nicki Minaj, Tyla, and others, have collaborated with content creators like Adin Ross and Kai Cenat. In April 2024, a leaked diss track attributed to Drake went viral on X, featuring a line mentioning Cenat.
Instances of YouTubers and Twitch streamers reacting to Not Like Us are being cited by Drake's defamation lawsuit as evidence of UMG promoting the "defamatory" song.
Screenshots of parts of the lawsuit have been circulating on social media platforms, where content from CartierFamily, RDC Gaming, Kai Cenat, and others have been listed as evidence.
Paragraph 144 of the legal document claims these streamers and YouTubers "profited" from reacting to the song because UMG had whitelisted the recording to give it an undue advantage in online promotions:
"These content creators could not have legally republished the Defamatory Material in full or profited from their reaction videos without UMG first whitelisting the Recording."
As of now, the YouTubers and Twitch streamers mentioned in Drake's defamation lawsuit against UMG have yet to comment on their inclusion in the legal proceedings.
