Joe Biden

So I think this is a complex question, and part of it has to do with how the song was released and promoted. Drake is basically saying that the label had a huge hand in making this song not only popular, but received as fact. He's saying that they're the ones who... pushed it to the radio, who made sure it could stream heavily on YouTube and Spotify. They're selling it to television shows.

So I think this is a complex question, and part of it has to do with how the song was released and promoted. Drake is basically saying that the label had a huge hand in making this song not only popular, but received as fact. He's saying that they're the ones who... pushed it to the radio, who made sure it could stream heavily on YouTube and Spotify. They're selling it to television shows.

And the legal argument is that Universal, UMG, had the responsibility to know that these claims against Drake were not true. To prove defamation against a public figure, you not only have to prove that the information was false, but that they knew it was false.

And the legal argument is that Universal, UMG, had the responsibility to know that these claims against Drake were not true. To prove defamation against a public figure, you not only have to prove that the information was false, but that they knew it was false.

And Drake is saying, UMG, this company that's given him hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, they should have known if one of their biggest, most valuable assets was a pedophile.

And Drake is saying, UMG, this company that's given him hundreds of millions of dollars over the years, they should have known if one of their biggest, most valuable assets was a pedophile.

Yes.

Yes.

Yeah, I think that's what's at the heart of this lawsuit. And Drake is saying, look, the song is one thing, but hey, look at the cover art. The cover art is an aerial photo of my home, and it has markers on it meant to indicate the presence of sex offenders. The music video has Kendrick Lamar hopscotching, you know, alluding to children.

Yeah, I think that's what's at the heart of this lawsuit. And Drake is saying, look, the song is one thing, but hey, look at the cover art. The cover art is an aerial photo of my home, and it has markers on it meant to indicate the presence of sex offenders. The music video has Kendrick Lamar hopscotching, you know, alluding to children.

It has shipping containers, which people associate with victims of sex trafficking. That Kendrick and the label... were underlining the fact that this was not just a joke, that these claims were very serious. Drake's lawsuit is making one more critical argument, which is that the label was incentivized to devalue him at this exact moment.

It has shipping containers, which people associate with victims of sex trafficking. That Kendrick and the label... were underlining the fact that this was not just a joke, that these claims were very serious. Drake's lawsuit is making one more critical argument, which is that the label was incentivized to devalue him at this exact moment.

They knew, he says, that his contract was almost up for renegotiation and that if they promoted a Kendrick Lamar song that chipped away at Drake's success and his persona, that it would be easier to sign him again for less money.

They knew, he says, that his contract was almost up for renegotiation and that if they promoted a Kendrick Lamar song that chipped away at Drake's success and his persona, that it would be easier to sign him again for less money.

UMG says that not only is all of this untrue, but why would we want to hurt one of our most valuable artists? They call it illogical. They say, Drake has been in many rap battles and we've put out his songs and promoted them heavily. They're saying he does this all the time.

UMG says that not only is all of this untrue, but why would we want to hurt one of our most valuable artists? They call it illogical. They say, Drake has been in many rap battles and we've put out his songs and promoted them heavily. They're saying he does this all the time.

that UMG distributes his music in which he says outrageous things about other people and expresses his own feelings about other artists. They say he's now seeking to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist's creative expression.

that UMG distributes his music in which he says outrageous things about other people and expresses his own feelings about other artists. They say he's now seeking to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist's creative expression.

Rat beefs in the past have gotten super nasty, but I think listeners have started to take them more literally. And Drake's lawyers are essentially saying that pedophilia is a red line, that it is a cultural dog whistle that means something very specific. And it's not part of the hyperbole that we usually get in rap songs.

Rat beefs in the past have gotten super nasty, but I think listeners have started to take them more literally. And Drake's lawyers are essentially saying that pedophilia is a red line, that it is a cultural dog whistle that means something very specific. And it's not part of the hyperbole that we usually get in rap songs.