Drake's legal team said UMG used its resources to "elevate a dangerous and inflammatory message that was designed to assassinate Drake’s character."

Drake sued his longtime label on Wednesday, accusing Universal Music Group of defamation for promoting Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," saying the song's false accusation that the Canadian rapper is a pedophile has put him and his family in danger.

That means he’s decided to forego his initial bid to secure a court order for UMG’s records pertaining to “Not Like Us” and skip straight to suing the major label.