Universal deny that head Lucian Grainge was personally involved in Kendrick Lamar attack on Drake | Drake

Common Music Group has denied new allegations made by Drake’s attorneys that its British chair and chief govt Lucian Grainge had a “function in and data of the scheme to defame and harass” the Canadian rapper by peer Kendrick Lamar, and that as such the label ought to “gather, assessment and produce” communications by Grainge.Drake is suing UMG – his label Republic’s dad or mum firm – over its launch of Lamar’s 2024 diss observe Not Like Us, which incorporates the road: “Say, Drake, I hear you want ’em younger … Licensed Lover Boy? Licensed pedophiles.” The paintings for the worldwide hit single options a picture of Drake’s dwelling dotted with icons used to determine the properties of registered intercourse offenders.Drake has denied the allegations, and in January filed a lawsuit towards UMG – not Lamar himself – alleging that it “accepted, revealed and launched a marketing campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap observe” that was “meant to convey the precise, unmistakable and false factual allegation that Drake is a legal paedophile, and to counsel that the general public ought to resort to vigilante justice in response”.The label initially responded that the swimsuit was “totally with out advantage”.Lucian Grainge stated that he by no means heard the track previous to its launch. {Photograph}: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesDrake’s newest movement argued that Drake believes “Grainge was personally concerned in selections made relating to the advertising and promotion of [Not Like Us] round its launch”.Legal professionals for UMG have now known as for Drake’s movement to be denied, labelling it a “clear try to make use of discovery to harass UMG and pressure it to waste time and sources out of spite” and that his “makes an attempt to point out Sir Lucian’s relevance are so strained that they defy credulity”.In authorized paperwork, Grainge declared that he by no means heard the track previous to its launch.Lawyer Rollin A Ransom continued: “The premise of Drake’s movement – that he couldn’t have misplaced a rap battle except it was the product of some imagined secret conspiracy going to the highest of UMG’s company construction – is absurd. Sir Lucian is the CEO of a multinational enterprise; his days are spent figuring out and implementing world technique, not vetting particular person tracks or album covers or driving the discharge and promotional plans for anybody recording.”Drake beforehand agreed to not search paperwork from Grainge, the letter states. “And even when Sir Lucian had any responsive paperwork, they’d absolutely be captured by discovery from UMG’s different doc custodians, who have been truly accountable for releasing and selling Not Like Us. Drake doesn’t come near assembly his burden of exhibiting that Sir Lucian should be a custodian.”The letter concludes: “Drake argues that Sir Lucian should be a custodian for no different motive than as a result of Drake requested for him. That’s fully inconsistent with the regulation and is especially inappropriate on condition that Drake’s request is clearly primarily based on a need to harass UMG, reasonably than for a legit motive.”Drake has not responded to the brand new submitting. The Guardian has contacted his representatives.UMG is in search of to have the case dismissed fully, claiming in March that Drake “misplaced a rap battle that he provoked and wherein he willingly participated … diss tracks are a well-liked and celebrated artwork kind centred round outrageous insults, and they might be severely chilled if Drake’s swimsuit have been permitted to proceed”.