Universal, Spotify ‘artificially’ boosted Kendrick Lamar

Drake claimed in a sensational new court filing that Universal Music Group and Spotify schemed to “artificially” boost his rap rival Kendrick Lamar’s blistering diss track “Not Like Us.”

Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, filed a petition in Manhattan court Monday alleging that UMG, which distributes both his and Lamar’s respective labels, Republic Records and Interscope Records, “launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves … in order to make that song go viral, including by using ‘bots’ and pay-to-play agreements.”

UMG was quick to deny the accusations, with a spokesperson saying in a statement to Billboard, “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue.”

The UMG rep continued, “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”

Spotify, meanwhile, declined to comment.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.