Drake’s legal dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG) continues to intensify. In a 144-page document submitted to Bexar County, Texas, on Thursday (Jan. 23), the music giant asked a court to dismiss the pre-action petition the rapper filed against them in November 2024.

The superstar rapper claims in a lawsuit that the record company he and Kendrick Lamar are both signed with have put his life and reputation at risk.

Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist — let alone Drake — is illogical."

Universal Music has filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s petition for pre-suit deposition in Bexar County, Texas, citing lack of evidence in the rapper’s claims against the record company that it artificially inflated and promoted Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.

UMG’s motion to dismiss argues that Drake’s lack of direct evidence towards his “Not Like Us” defamation and payola claims warrant a dismissal of the petition. “Because [Drake’s] petition is related to and was filed in response to UMG’s protected free speech,

Univeral Music Group (UMG) has filed a counterclaim against its biggest star, Drake, seeking to dismiss Drizzy's pre-suit deposition in Texas.