Drake named the man who allegedly helped UMG pay third parties to boost Kendrick Lamar’s diss track with bots.
Drake has named the man he believes helped Universal Music Group funnel money to boost Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” with artificial streams and online promotion.
According to court filings, the Hip-Hop star is accusing Kojo Menne Asamoah of coordinating secret payments on behalf of UMG executive Ramon Alvarez-Smikle.
Drake claims these payments were used to hire third parties and bots to inflate the track’s reach and damage his reputation.
His legal team has spent more than $75,000 trying to locate and serve Asamoah with a subpoena. They’ve searched multiple addresses in California and Maryland, including his last known residence, several business locations, and even his parents’ home.
They also tracked a Range Rover registered to him and sent emails to addresses believed to be associated with him.
After failing to serve him in person, Drake is now seeking the court’s permission to use alternative methods, including certified mail and email, to deliver the subpoena.
The lawsuit centers around what Drake describes as a coordinated effort to defame him and profit off the controversy. He alleges UMG used deceptive tactics to push the song, which he says falsely portrays him as a pedophile and endangered his safety.
The lawsuit points to specific incidents that followed the release of “Not Like Us,” including a shooting outside Drake’s home and threats made against his family.
His legal team argues these events were direct consequences of the song’s widespread promotion.
Drake claims UMG not only promoted the track but also profited from it through Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance and Grammy wins, which further amplified the song’s reach.
Despite UMG’s objections, a judge has granted Drake access to internal documents, including Kendrick Lamar’s contracts and executive compensation records, as part of the discovery process.
The court has not yet ruled on Drake’s request to serve Asamoah through alternative means.
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