Drake is known for being a savvy artist with a solid understanding of the music industry,
but it’s his legal team that may have missed the mark in their recent 81-page defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG).
The lawsuit, which targets the song “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, is not just about the accusations of violence against the Toronto rapper
it also reveals a serious mix-up in basic hip-hop knowledge
that has caused a stir among fans and the media alike.
The central argument in Drake’s lawsuit revolves around allegations that “Not Like Us” contains violent lyrics that suggest Drake should be harmed due to accusations of being a pedophile, a claim he strongly denies.
The lawsuit highlights a specific lyric from the track that repeats the phrase “wop, wop, wop, wop,” followed by a threat that Lamar would “f**k ‘em up.” According to Drake’s legal team, this repeated suggestion of violence puts the rapper in danger.
However, the controversy doesn’t stop there. The lawsuit also claims that Lamar’s song threatens Drake with a dire consequence if he were to perform in Oakland: “I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop.” This lyric, according to Drake’s legal team, intensifies the threat against the rapper, implying that if he ever stepped foot in Oakland, his life would be in danger.
But here’s where Drake’s lawyers seem to have slipped up. As any hip-hop fan would know, Kendrick Lamar, whose real name is Kendrick Duckworth, was born and raised in Compton, California, not Oakland. Lamar has often referenced Compton in his music, where he spent much of his early life and shaped his identity as an artist. Oakland, on the other hand, is a city with its own strong rap culture, but it’s not Lamar’s hometown.
The mix-up has caused quite a stir, leading to questions about whether Drake’s legal team really understands the intricacies of hip-hop culture. After all, the reference to Oakland in Lamar’s lyrics makes sense within the context of a rap battle, as it was a response to Drake’s use of a Tupac Shakur AI voice on his own diss track, “Taylor Made.” Tupac, who spent part of his youth in Oakland, is an icon in the Bay Area, and Kendrick’s mention of the city was a way of implying that the people of Oakland wouldn’t take kindly to Drake’s actions.
The mistake in the lawsuit has led to widespread criticism of Drake’s legal team, with many pointing out that they seem to lack the basic understanding of hip-hop history that even casual fans possess. The mishandling of such an important detail has raised eyebrows, especially when Drake himself is well-versed in rap culture and likely aware of Lamar’s Compton roots.
The lawsuit itself was filed by Drake after the song “Not Like Us” was published and promoted by UMG, with the rapper claiming that the lyrics falsely label him as a pedophile—a serious accusation he denies. The song’s lyrics have stirred up a lot of controversy, but the legal misstep about Kendrick’s Oakland reference has added fuel to the fire. Many fans are now questioning whether the lawsuit will damage Drake’s street credibility more than the original rap beef ever could.
The case has sparked debates about the impact of legal battles in the music world, especially in the context of hip-hop, where authenticity and reputation are everything. Some fans believe that Drake’s decision to sue over a rap dispute is a move that could backfire, potentially costing him more “street cred” than he gains from winning the case. Others argue that this legal battle is just another chapter in the ongoing feud between the two rappers, and that it’s all part of the entertainment and spectacle of the hip-hop world.
Ultimately, the mistake in the lawsuit only adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding this case. While Drake’s lawyers work to correct their error, the question remains: will this misstep have a lasting impact on the rapper’s reputation, or will he be able to move past it and continue to make hits in the music world? For now, the case continues to unfold, but the controversy surrounding the legal team’s lack of hip-hop knowledge is certainly one for the books.
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