Drake scores major legal win against UMG, days after being humiliated at the 2025 Oscars

Drake scores a legal win against UMG as they attempted to delay his discovery motion in the 'Not Like Us' payola case.

Drake has secured a legal victory against Universal Music Group (UMG) after a Texas court denied the label’s request to delay his discovery motion. The rapper is pushing forward with his lawsuit, which alleges that UMG used payola tactics to artificially inflate the success of Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us".

On March 3, Drake’s legal team submitted a 26-page discovery motion in Bexar County District Court, demanding a four-hour deposition from a UMG representative. He is seeking information about promotional strategies, including potential payments to social media influencers and radio stations to boost airplay. The motion also requests details on UMG’s business operations in Texas, including licensing, contracts, and revenue deals.

Despite reconciling with iHeartMedia, Drake included the company in his motion, believing UMG pressured them to overplay Not Like Us. This ties into an ongoing FCC investigation into claims that iHeartMedia prioritized artists willing to perform at its festivals.

UMG attempted to delay the case by filing a motion to adjourn the pretrial conference set for April 2, but Judge Vargas rejected the request. This ruling ensures that the legal process remains on schedule and allows Drake to move forward in his fight to expose alleged industry manipulation.

The legal win comes amid a slew of public ridicule where Drake was targeted such as the Super Bowl LIX and the recent Oscars. During the Super Bowl halftime show performance, Lamar rapped, "Certified Lover Boy? Certified p*dophile!" referencing Drake’s 2021 album.

While hosting the Academy Awards, host Conan O’Brien referenced Lamar's halftime show performance of "Not Like Us" and took a jab at the rapper by saying, "Well, we're halfway through the show, which means it's time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile."

Drake has maintained that Not Like Us’s success was driven by artificial promotional tactics rather than organic popularity. His legal team believes UMG engaged in unethical marketing practices to undermine him while elevating Lamar.