Drake Settles With iHeartMedia, Continues Legal Battle With Universal Music Group

The rapper alleges Universal Music Group engaged in illegal payola schemes to promote Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning diss track 'Not Like Us.'

Drake has reached a private settlement with iHeartMedia after alleging the company accepted covert payments from Universal Music Group (UMG) to promote Kendrick Lamar's song 'Not Like Us.'
The settlement included no monetary payments, with iHeartMedia providing documents to demonstrate it did not engage in wrongdoing.
Drake continues to pursue a federal defamation lawsuit against UMG, accusing the label of promoting false and damaging allegations against him through Lamar's song, which refers to Drake as a 'certified pedophile.'
UMG denies the claims, arguing that its actions are protected under free speech laws and that Drake is attempting to suppress artistic expression.
The Federal Communications Commission is investigating iHeartMedia for unrelated payola allegations, potentially lending weight to Drake's broader claims.