After UMG allegedly made damaging remarks about him, Drake’s legal team urged a Manhattan federal judge to let their defamation lawsuit move forward, marking a bold and emotional move to protect his name and challenge one of the industry’s most powerful forces.

In a new twist to an already tense legal standoff, a spokesperson for Canadian rapper Drake issued a statement this week supporting his legal team’s push to proceed with a defamation case against Universal Music Group (UMG), one of the most powerful entities in the music industry.

The development came after Drake’s lawyers appeared before a federal judge in Manhattan on Monday, urging the court to allow the lawsuit to move forward despite objections raised by UMG’s legal counsel.

The case, which has remained largely under the radar until now, centers around allegations that representatives affiliated with UMG made defamatory remarks about Drake’s business practices and professional reputation.

Though details remain partially sealed, court filings and those close to the proceedings indicate that the accusations involve a dispute over licensing rights, public statements, and the distribution of sensitive industry communications that allegedly portrayed Drake in a misleading and damaging light.

During Monday’s hearing in the Southern District of New York, Drake’s attorneys argued that UMG’s attempts to dismiss the case are “procedurally aggressive” and fail to address the deeper reputational harm their client has endured.

“No artist should be subjected to defamatory commentary from their own partners in the industry,” said a member of Drake’s legal team outside the courthouse.

“This lawsuit is not about headlines—it’s about setting a precedent that even the biggest labels must be accountable when they cross the line.”

The spokesperson for Drake later released a brief but pointed statement reinforcing the rapper’s stance: “Drake stands behind the legal process and trusts the court will see this through fairly.

There is too much at stake for silence to be the answer.” The statement added that Drake remains focused on his ongoing creative projects but felt compelled to take action to protect his name and artistic integrity.

The dispute allegedly stems from a chain of events earlier this year, when insiders at UMG reportedly made disparaging remarks in private emails and internal meetings, some of which later became public through anonymous leaks.

These communications, according to Drake’s team, were then cited by media outlets in articles that painted the rapper as “difficult to work with” and “intentionally disruptive” in label negotiations—characterizations his attorneys claim are false and harmful.

UMG, for its part, has denied all wrongdoing. In court documents, the company’s legal representatives argue that the remarks in question fall under protected opinion and were never intended for public release.

“There is no merit to these claims,” a UMG spokesperson said in a separate statement. “The company values its relationship with all its artists, including Mr. Graham [Drake], and will continue to defend itself vigorously against these baseless allegations.”

Industry analysts say the case has broader implications for artist-label dynamics, particularly in an era where major acts like Drake are asserting more independence and leveraging their platforms to challenge traditional power structures.

Drake, who has sold over 170 million records worldwide and holds numerous Billboard records, has increasingly positioned himself as both an artist and a business force, having launched his own imprint OVO Sound and forged strategic distribution deals outside the conventional label structure.

The Manhattan court’s decision on whether to allow the defamation lawsuit to proceed could come as early as next month.

If granted, the case may head into discovery—a process that could potentially expose more internal communications, emails, and contracts between Drake and UMG.

Legal experts suggest that such revelations could either bolster the rapper’s claims or force a confidential settlement, depending on what comes to light.

Behind the legal curtain, tensions between Drake and UMG have reportedly been mounting for months.

While neither side has confirmed details of recent disputes, industry observers point to stalled joint projects, last-minute pulled releases, and cryptic social media activity as possible signs of growing friction.

A since-deleted Instagram story from one of Drake’s longtime collaborators earlier this year hinted at “label interference” and “intentional sabotage,” which many fans took as a thinly veiled reference to ongoing issues with UMG.

Adding another layer to the drama is the timing. Drake is rumored to be planning a surprise music drop in the coming weeks, potentially involving new material that sidesteps traditional UMG channels.

While that has yet to be confirmed, some speculate that the legal battle may be linked to deeper questions around contractual control and future licensing rights.

Still, despite the courtroom drama, Drake appears publicly unfazed. He has been seen in recent days attending fashion events in Paris and was spotted in Toronto last weekend shooting scenes for what sources say is a new visual project tied to his upcoming release.

Fans, meanwhile, remain divided—some urging him to fight back against what they view as industry gatekeeping, while others question whether such high-stakes litigation could distract from his music.

For now, all eyes are on the Manhattan federal courthouse, where one of the biggest artists on the planet is challenging the institution that helped elevate him to superstardom.

If the court allows the case to proceed, it could set the stage for a highly public—and potentially transformative—trial that redefines how much control artists truly have over their reputations in a corporate-dominated industry.