Drake Withdraws Legal Action Against UMG & Spotify Over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'
Drake has officially withdrawn his legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify after accusing the music giants of scheming to illegally inflate Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us.”
In a surprise twist in the bombshell legal saga, the Toronto rapper and his company Frozen Moments filed legal paperwork in New York on Tuesday (January 14) informing the court that they were withdrawing the petition, which requested information from the two companies for a potential future lawsuit.
The filing, which has been viewed by HipHopDX, notes that Drake and/or his representative(s) “met and conferred with [UMG and Spotify] on January 14, 2025 regarding this filing.”
It says Spotify, which previously filed an opposition to the petition, responded by expressing “no objection to the withdrawal and discontinuance.”
Diddy Says Freak-Off Tapes Show Consensual Sex With Cassie
Diddy says the "freak-off" videos the government is trying to use against him actually prove his innocence ... he says the tapes show consensual sex with Cassie and he even claims she appeared to enjoy herself.
According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's defense team says they've seen the 9 so-called "freak-off" videos the feds are making a big stink about ... but his attorneys say the content on the tapes amounts to "private sexual activity between fully consenting adults in a long-term relationship."
Diddy's legal team says his ex-girlfriend Cassie "not only consented, but thoroughly enjoyed herself" and "is evidently happy, dominant and completely in control." The docs reference Victim-1, who we now know is Cassie.
Prosecutors described the videos as "elaborate and produced sex performances" in the federal indictment against Diddy ... but his lawyers say the footage does NOT depict sex parties, but rather "adults having consensual sex, plain and simple."
Diddy's attorneys also say the tapes were NOT secretly recorded and they push back on some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the case ... claiming, "There are no secret cameras, no orgies, no other celebrities involved, no underground tunnels, no minors, and not so much as a hint of coercion or violence."
And, get this ... Diddy claims Cassie kept the recordings on her devices for years and turned them over to the government herself ... and he's refuting the feds' position that he kept the videos as collateral. He insists the videos were not on his devices and were not seized from his home.
LiAngelo Ball Inks Record Deal With Def Jam
LiAngelo Ball's officially a signed artist -- he inked a deal with Def Jam following the massive success of his viral song, "Tweaker."
Gelo's contract is with Def Jam and Universal Music Group ... and while initial reports say it's worth $8 million, our sources say that is not true. According to insider Shams Charania, Gelo will own all his music (a huge win in the industry) as well as his own label.
Beyoncé Donating $2.5 Million to Support L.A. Wildfire Relief
Beyoncé is reminding people to BeyGOOD ... by shelling out a hefty chunk of change through her foundation to support the Los Angeles wildfire relief effort.
The singer's foundation, BeyGOOD, which launched back in 2013, posted on IG Sunday they're "taking action by announcing the LA Fire Relief Fund with a donation of 2.5 million dollars" ... with the specific goal of helping those impacted by the Eaton Fire -- a blaze still burning in the northeast area of L.A.
The foundation noted ... "The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centers to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires."
Chuck D Criticizes Use Of Public Enemy Song During L.A. Wildfires
Chuck D is pleading with fans to stop associating the Public Enemy song “Burn Hollywood Burn” with the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles.
A number of blazes have been wreaking havoc across the city over the last week, claiming the lives of at least 24 people and destroying countless homes, schools, businesses and other buildings.
Some trends on social media have seen the classic 1990 Public Enemy track used as the soundtrack to images and video of the destruction caused by the fire — something Chuck D is far from happy with.
In a post on Instagram, the rap icon urged people to stop doing this and explained the true meaning behind the political anthem, which features Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane.]
“‘Burn Hollywood Burn’ is a protest song. Extracted from the Watts Rebellion monikered by the Magnificent Montague in 1965 against inequality when he said ‘burn baby burn’ across the air,” he wrote.
“We made mind revolution songs aimed at one sided exploitation by a industry has nothing to do with families losing everything they have in a natural disaster. Learn the history. Godspeed to those in loss.”
In the comments section, Chuck offered a more direct order to his followers: “Please don’t use our song on your reels and pictures of this horrifying natural disaster.”
DJ Envy Adds To Cam'ron's Story About Jim Jones Confronting Maino: 'I Was There'
DJ Envy has backed up Cam’ron‘s story about Jim Jones once confronting Maino, but added some extra details.
In an explosive rant about his former Dipset comrade earlier this week, Killa Cam revealed that Jones once confronted Maino for dissing him early in his career.
“Ever wonder how he met Maino? Maino gonna downplay it ’cause they cool now. He tried to press Maino ’cause Maino first came out with a little record where he said a n-gga’s name,” Cam said.
“So Jim went to see Maino one day and was like, ‘Yo, wassup with all that saying my name?’ Maino said, ‘Who the fuck you talking to?! Oh, you think I’m one of them n-ggas? You out your muthafucking mind!’ Now they’re the Lobby Boyz.”
He added: “Every n-gga that do something to put pressure on you, you sit there and work it out. But when n-ggas got genuine heart for you and don’t put hands on you, then you can keep going on and on. That’s the pattern.”
Speaking on The Breakfast Club, DJ Envy verified the story and revealed that Maino pretended to pull a gun on Jim Jones during the confrontation.
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