Rap fans were left cackling when eye-catching Drake billboards displayed across Los Angeles appeared online on Wednesday, amid scrutiny over the Canadian rapper’s recent filing against Universal Music Group (UMG).
Drake billboards with ‘Squabble Up’ pop up in LA
The billboards featuring the words Squabble Up seemingly reference the ongoing drama between global rap icons Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which has caused a stir online.
However, the billboards have no direct ties to either artist.
The campaign, as it turns out, is the brainchild of personal injury lawyer Benjamin Drake, who has leveraged the rapper’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against UMG for a clever marketing ploy.
Social media lit up with speculation after photos of the advertisements began circulating online.
Many were quick to associate the phrase with Kendrick Lamar’s recent song Squabble Up from his GNX album, further fuelling the narrative of a growing feud between the two rappers.
Benjamin Drake’s billboards cleverly play into the zeitgeist, using the legal woes and rap rivalry as a backdrop to promote his legal services.
UMG responds to Drake’s lawsuit
The billboards came at a pivotal moment, as UMG issued a strong rebuttal to Drake’s defamation lawsuit.
The rapper, in his court filing, accused the label of actively promoting Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us, which contains lyrics branding Drake a “certified paedophile.”
Drake insists that UMG prioritised profits over protecting his reputation, enabling Lamar’s controversial release.
In its response, UMG rejected the claims as baseless.
“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,” a UMG spokesperson said.
They emphasised their role in Drake’s global success, pointing out the resources invested in his career.
The spokesperson also dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to misuse the legal system:
“He now seeks to weaponise the legal process to silence an artist’s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.”
UMG vowed to fight the lawsuit, making it clear it was committed to supporting all artists under its roster.
They characterised Drake’s legal action as a threat to artistic freedom and promised to defend against what they viewed as frivolous claims.
