“Not Like Us”: Spotify denies favoring Kendrick Lamar’s song over Drake

New episode in the conflict between the two leaders of US rap. Spotify has denied having secretly helped Kendrick Lamar to boost the listening to his track “Not Like Us”, in which he attacks Drake head-on. The streaming platform filed a request in Manhattan court last Friday.

For Drake, there is no doubt. Universal Music Group (UMG), the record label of the two rappers, is said to have “launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate streaming services and the airwaves with a song, Not Like Usin order to make this song viral, in particular by using “bots” and pay-per-listen agreements”.

“False” allegations

Accusations categorically denied by the streaming platform. “The basis for Plaintiff’s entire claim to Spotify is false. Spotify and UMG have never had an agreement of this type,” the lawyers further indicate in the document filed in court. According to Billboard, Spotify considers the accusations of the Toronto rapper “false” and “far-fetched”.

“Spotify has no economic interest in users listening Not Like Us streaming rather than any other Drake title,” the company further announced, asserting that the legal action brought by the Canadian artist is a “subversion of the usual legal procedure.”

In response, Drake’s legal team said that “if Spotify and UMG had nothing to hide, they should be perfectly able to comply with this request and provide evidence.”

“Not Like Us”, the very popular single by the Californian rapper, was released on May 4 following the release of several tracks in which the two rappers clash with each other. Considered the most influential track of their rivalry with more than 900 million plays on Spotify, “Not Like Us” accuses Drake of child abuse. “Say, Drake, I heard you like them young,” says Kendrick, which the main person obviously denied.