Drake’s Legal Team Reveals 63 Potential Witnesses in Defamation Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group
In a significant development in Drake’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), the rapper’s legal team has disclosed a lengthy list of 63 potential witnesses. This “initial disclosure” filing, submitted on June 2 but only made public on July 14 according to Billboard, sheds new light on the scope of the case and the key figures involved.
The lawsuit centers around allegations that UMG orchestrated a campaign to artificially boost the success of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which includes a contentious lyric labeling Drake a “certified pedophile.” Drake claims this was part of a calculated effort to damage his reputation, and the new witness list underscores the complexity of the accusations.
While many of the names on Drake’s list are UMG employees, the filing also includes several high-profile individuals. UMG CEO Sir Lucian Grainge is cited as a key source of information on “all causes of action” related to the company. Notably, Dave Free, former president of Top Dawg Entertainment, and Anthony Saleh, Kendrick Lamar’s manager, are also named. However, Kendrick Lamar himself is conspicuously absent from Drake’s witness list.
Beyond personnel, Drake’s team is demanding extensive information from major music streaming platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Deezer, SoundCloud, Spotify, and TIDAL. The request focuses on UMG’s “promotion and licensing of the defamatory material” and alleged “use of covert tactics” to push the track. Social media giants TikTok, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram are also named, along with entities such as the NFL, Fox, and Roc Nation, due to their involvement in the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show where the feud gained mainstream attention.
On the flip side, UMG’s witness list is significantly shorter, comprising just nine individuals, including both Drake and Kendrick Lamar. UMG’s attorneys assert that Lamar “is likely to have discoverable information concerning the creation of the recording, image, and video, and the distribution and promotion of the recording and video,” suggesting that he will play a central role in their defense.
As the lawsuit unfolds, Drake is simultaneously focusing on his music career. He recently dropped the first single, “What Did I Miss?”, from his upcoming studio album Iceman on July 4th. This will be his first solo album since the highly publicized feud with Kendrick Lamar in 2024 and follows 2023’s For All the Dogs.
Despite ramping up promotion, Drake has yet to announce an official release date for Iceman. Fans eagerly await confirmation, though the rapper has promised the album will drop before the end of 2025.
With the legal proceedings intensifying and his music career progressing, Drake remains firmly in the spotlight—both for his artistic output and the high-stakes battle playing out behind the scenes.
