Drake claims Universal used illegal tactic to promote Kendrick Lamar

Drake has filed legal documents against Universal Music Group, claiming the company used illegal methods to promote the Kendrick Lamar diss track Not Like Us.

The Grammy-winning entertainer, 38, said in legal docs reviewed by TMZ Hip Hop that the musical monolith implemented the use of 'bots and a payola scheme' in its efforts to push the single, which was released this past May.

The Toronto native said that information provided to him from an 'inside source' indicated that UMG breached FCC statutes in engaging in the practice of payola, according to legal docs.

Drake filed the legal papers Monday in Manhattan via his Drake's Frozen Moments LLC, saying UMG breached state law in its conduct, specifically the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, according to Billboard.

The legal filing Drake submit is considered a 'pre-action' under state law, which calls for a probe prior to a full suit being filed. 

The First Person Shooter performer, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, said UMG made 'covert payments' to many organizations, including radio stations, to play and plug the diss track aimed at him, TMZ reported.

Drake, whose feud with Lamar, 37, dominated hip-hop headlines earlier this year, said in legal docs that UMG has a checkered past in regards to payola, also referred to as 'pay for play.'

Drake's legal team said in court docs that 'UMG … conspired with and paid currently unknown parties to use 'bots' to artificially inflate the spread of Not Like Us and deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality.' 

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Drake said that an insider told him that UMG executives also authorized the spending of funds on bots to boost Not Like Us's Spotify totals, garnering 30 million streams.

Drake also named Spotify in the legal filing, according to Billboard.

UMG brass also paid social media influencers to push the single, which includes inflammatory lyrics aimed at him (referring to him as a 'certified pedophile'), Drake said his source informed him, according to TMZ.

The Slime You Out rapper said in legal docs that UMG also ignored enforcing copyright requirements via social media, in an effort to make the track go viral.

The Family Matters vocalist - whose own music is distributed via UMG - said that one goal in filing the lawsuit was to audit UMG in their alleged payments to iHeartRadio and its affiliates.

Drake told the court that details in regards to that issue could be the foundation of a civil fraud and racketeering suit against UMG and their collaborators. 

Drake said in legal docs that facts he can already prove could support a defamation lawsuit against UMG.

Drake has long been affiliated with UMG, through subsidiaries such as Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records, Billboard reported.

Lamar has also been with UMG throughout his career, via the companies Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope, in addition to his own communications firm pgLang.

Drakes legal team noted that UMG in May of 2006 paid a $12 million fine to the New York State Attorney General to settle a probe in to whether the company had used payola tactics to boost the music of artists.

Among those UMG paid to promote 18 years back included artists such as Ashlee Simpson, Brian McKnight and Nick Lachey, among others, authorities in New York said at the time, Variety reported.

A spokesperson for Universal Music Group told Dailymail.com in a statement: 'The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue. We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns.

'No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for Drake for comment on the story.