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Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 smash hit Not Like Us, which aims at rap star Drake, has become a cultural phenomenon.
However, Drake sued several different entities over the distribution of Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 hit. After the song remained atop the music charts for most of the year, Drake took legal action. Drake brought several companies into the litigation, alleging that they conspired to execute mass promotion of the song. Particularly the lyric where he is referred to as a “certified pedo**ile”
Dave Free Headlines Drake’s Witness List
As the court proceedings progress, Drake has submitted a list of witnesses that he would like to be called during the process, according to Billboard. And the list is massive.
Headlining the list of witnesses that Drake has submitted is former Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) President Dave Free.
“Drake has not accused Lamar himself of defamation, and the Los Angeles rapper is notably absent from Drake’s potential witness list. But he does name multiple high-profile people and businesses associated with Lamar, including former Top Dawg Entertainment president Dave Free and manager Anthony Saleh,” the outlet writes.
Free became a pertinent part of Kendrick and Drake’s rap feud. In Drake’s song, “Family Matters” the rap star alleges that Free had an affair with Kendrick’s fiancee, Whitney Alford. He also alleges that Dave fathered Whitney’s son and not Kendrick.
Another potential high-profile witness in this case is UMG CEO, Lucian Grange. Grange is listed as a source who knew about “all sources of information,” related to the distribution of the hit record.
Among the other names on the list that Drake submitted are Universal Music Publishing Group chief Jody Gerson, Interscope CEO John Janick, and Republic co-founders Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman.
As of today, there is no information on how much Drake wants from UMG if he was to win the case. But we do know that he is seeking “nominal, punitive, and compensatory damages.”
It will be interesting to see how this plays out in court.
