Drake’s Upcoming Collab Album with PARTYNEXTDOOR May Face Legal Complications Amid UMG Lawsuit
Drake’s highly anticipated collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U, is set to drop on Valentine’s Day, but questions surrounding his ongoing defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) have added a layer of intrigue and uncertainty. Fans and industry insiders alike are wondering how Drake plans to navigate these legal and contractual hurdles while releasing new music.
DJ Akademiks’ Theory on the Album’s Release
During a recent livestream, DJ Akademiks offered a theory about how Drake might sidestep his legal conflict with UMG while still delivering new music to fans. According to Akademiks, $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U might not officially be a Drake album.
“From what I’ve heard from some Universal people, Drake not even gon’ be on it,” Akademiks claimed. “Drake’s a feature on all of PARTYNEXTDOOR’s songs. What happens when two artists of two different labels drop a project? […] From what I got told, this is Party’s project, and Drake is featured on every song. But is it Drake and Party? Mm-mm.”
Akademiks further speculated that the album might be released through Sony Music Entertainment, allowing Drake to potentially sidestep his contractual obligations with UMG. He theorized that this move could be part of a strategy for Drake to fulfill his current label contract and become a free agent.
The Legal Conflict
Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG has created tension between the artist and his longtime distributor. Reports suggest that the relationship has grown so strained that Drake and UMG executives are primarily communicating through their lawyers. This strained dynamic raises questions about how Drake’s future solo projects might be affected, especially if the label conflict remains unresolved.
$OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U could serve as a workaround to keep the music flowing while Drake navigates his legal troubles. If the album is indeed labeled as a PARTYNEXTDOOR project, it would allow Drake to contribute heavily without directly clashing with UMG. However, whether this would fully satisfy his contractual obligations remains to be seen.
What Fans Can Expect
Despite the legal drama, fans have much to look forward to. According to Akademiks, Drake will reportedly appear on almost every track of the 15-song album, and there’s even speculation that he might have a solo track on the project. The pair has already teased the album with a short video snippet, and the Valentine’s Day release date suggests that the project will lean into their signature blend of romantic, sultry vibes.
Beyond this collaboration, Drake has also hinted at a solo album, telling fans during his Anita Max Win tour that he plans to release it “when the time is right.” Whether this solo effort will also face challenges related to his UMG lawsuit remains unclear.
While fans eagerly await the release of $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U, Drake’s ongoing legal battle with UMG adds a layer of complexity to the rollout. DJ Akademiks’ theory about the album being marketed as a PARTYNEXTDOOR project offers a possible solution, but it remains speculative for now. Regardless of the legal and contractual hurdles, Drake’s ability to keep delivering music in creative ways underscores his resilience and dedication to his craft.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, OVO fans will be tuning in to hear what Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR have cooked up — and watching closely to see how this label drama unfolds.
