Rapper Drake has tapped Houston law firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing, known as AZA, to represent him in a legal action against Universal Music Group amid his high-profile feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar.
AZA Partners John Zavitsanos, Daryl Moore, Monica Uddin and associate Michael Killingsworth on Monday filed a pre-lawsuit petition requesting permission to take depositions of corporate representatives for UMG and iHeartMedia to investigate potential claims.
The petition was filed in Bexar County; iHeartMedia has a primary place of business in San Antonio. Drake, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, purchased Texas property earlier this year — a $15 million ranch in Washington County about 70 miles northwest of Houston.
Drake’s petition accuses UMG of inflating the popularity of his rival’s “Not Like Us” diss track that lodges insults and accusations of pedophilia against Drake. The song’s popularity soared on radio and streaming services after its release in May. Drake and Lamar both have record label deals with UMG.
Drake alleges he already has enough evidence to pursue a lawsuit for defamation and other claims but told the court the information obtained in the depositions he seeks could determine whether he also pursues claims of civil fraud and racketeering.
The petition, citing an unnamed source, states that UMG made illegal, covert payments to radio stations to play Lamar’s song. The petition also points to an unknown “whistleblower” who publicly said he was paid thousands of dollars to use fake “bots” to boost streams of the song.
Also on Monday, Drake filed a similar petition in New York against UMG and Spotify. AZA is not currently involved in that filing. Drake is also represented by Michael J. Gottlieb, Meryl C. Governski and M. Annie Houghton-Larsen of Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
AZA previously represented Drake in the multidistrict litigation stemming from the deadly 2021 Astroworld music festival in Houston. Drake had been a defendant alongside concert headliner Travis Scott, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II, and venue operators. Drake was ultimately dismissed from the Astroworld litigation.
As of publication, UMG had not filed attorneys of record.