More than a year on from their last live performances, Canadian musician Cindy Lee has announced a short run of North American tour dates.
Lee (the musical moniker of Patrick Flegel) had initially announced an extensive run of tour dates throughout April and May 2024 in support of their breakthrough album, Diamond Jubilee.
Described as the “last American tour” for the enigmatic artist, the latter half of the planned run was called off for undisclosed personal reasons within the touring party.
Now after more than a year of silence, new dates have been added to the artist’s schedule with shows in Chicago, Toronto, Montreal and New York City planned for early November.
Freak Heat Waves, who had previously performed on Lee’s 2024 tour, will open all dates except for Toronto, where Blue Light will start proceedings.
Flegel’s Cindy Lee project first rose to prominence in 2020 following the release of What’s Tonight to Eternity?, and later gained widespread acclaim thanks to 2024’s mysterious Diamond Jubilee album.
Promoted with little fanfare, the album was purposely absent from streaming services (save for a YouTube upload of the record), with a typically-awkward Geocities site serving as the main point of digital distribution for the two-hour long triple LP. Regardless, reviews were extremely positive and the album was ultimately shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.
“The buzz around Diamond Jubilee indicates both the beauty of the album itself and a broader excitement at the possibility that branding and endless self-promotion aren’t everything,” wrote Rosie Long Decter for Billboard Canada.
“In a period where artists and labels are struggling to figure out how to break through the online noise, it’s refreshing to see an artist so whole-heartedly reject the imperatives of the streaming economy, and to see that artist lauded, instead of chided.”
Cindy Lee – 2025 Tour Dates
Nov. 5 – Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL Nov. 6 – Massey Hall, Toronto, ON Nov. 10 – Rialto Theatre, Montreal, QC Nov. 15 – Brooklyn Paramount, New York City, NY
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 05:53:432025-08-13 05:53:43Cindy Lee Announces North American Tour Dates
Close to six months on from his exit from the band, co-founding Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has addressed the topic, confirming he was “kicked out” of the group.
Hinds co-founded the Atlanta heavy metal outfit in 2000 alongside bassist/singer Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/singer Brann Dailor, with their lineup remaining largely unchanged since 2001.
In March, however, the band revealed that Mastodon and Hinds had “mutually decided to part ways” after “25 monumental years together.”
“We’re deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we’ve shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavors,” a message from the group read. “We are still very inspired and excited to show up for fans in this next chapter of Mastodon.”
In June, there were hints that Hinds’ departure was a rocky one, with the guitarist noting on social media that he wouldn’t “miss being in a s–t band with horrible humans.”
Now, Hinds has again taken to the comments section, confirming that his exit from the band was not a voluntary one. His latest remarks were made on Instagram in reply to a video which shared a clip of Mastodon performing “Crack the Skye” in Silver Spring, Maryland in 2012.
“My guitar sounds great, but Troy and prawn [Dailor] sound absolutely horrible,” he wrote. “They are way out of key. Embarrassing and they kicked me out of the band for embarrassing them for being who I am. But what about who they are? They are two people that can’t sing..together live or anywhere else in the world. Rverything they try to sing in the studio is manipulated by autotune because they’re incapable of singing in key.
“F–k these guys,” Hinds continued. “Only I know who they really are. They are the biggest fans of them self’s [sic]. I’ve never seen anyone in my life look in the mirror more than Troy Sanders. He thinks he’s God’s gift to anything. I’ve never met three people that were so full of themselves. It’s disgusting.”
Hinds also added a slight caveat to his comments, writing a separate message accompanied by a laugh-crying emoji to note he was “Not saying I can sing tho.”
While no members of Mastodon have responded directly to Hinds’ comments, Metal Injection reports that Dailor recently reshared a fans’ clip of a recent live performance, captioning it with the message, “Sounds in key to me.”
Among nine Billboard 200-charting albums, Mastodon has landed three in the top 10 of the all-genre chart: 2011’s The Hunter, 2014’s One More ‘Round the Sun and 2017’s Emperor of Sand, with the latter two both hitting No. 1 on Top Rock Albums. From six Grammy nominations, the band has taken home one win: best metal performance for “Sultan’s Curse” in 2018.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 05:00:022025-08-13 05:00:02Brent Hinds Reveals Mastodon Departure Was Not Mutual: ‘They Kicked Me Out’
Just weeks after being banned from Hungary for posing a “national security threat,” Irish outfit Kneecap have shared a message with their fans at the country’s Sziget Festival.
On July 24, it was announced by Hungarian politician and spokesperson Zoltán Kovács that Kneecap’s planned Aug. 11 appearance at the Budapest festival would not be going ahead, with the group receiving a three-year ban from the country “for antisemitism and glorifying terror.”
“Kneecap’s members repeatedly engage in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups,” Kovács explained. “Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form.
“Their planned performance posed a national security threat, and for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years. If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms.”
While Kneecap labelled this ban a “political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people,” the group ultimately chose to share a message with the “tens of thousands of fans who we were buzzing to see in person at Sziget” at the festival.
Taking to social media on Monday (Aug. 11), Kneecap urged attendees of Sziget Festival to attend the Buzz Stage at 11:05pm to receive a video message in their absence, which was later shared to their Instagram account.
“We were banned from Hungary for three years to prevent us playing Sziget and speaking against genocide,” it began. “F–k [Prime Minister Viktor] Orban.”
“We wish we could be there with you at one of the best festivals in the world and the first European festival Kneecap ever played,” the message continued. “We can’t because of one hate filled man. Viktor Orbán.”
“We have been convicted of zero crimes in any country ever. But we will call out oppression. For calling out Israel’s genocidal campaign Viktor has banned us from your beautiful country for 3 years. Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people. Viktor Orbán and his government support it.
“Viktor Orbán and his government tried to shut down Pride in Budapest,” Kneecap’s message concluded. “They failed. We must stand together. Oppose Orbán. Oppose Israel. Oppose genocide. Free Palestine.”
Kneecap’s ban from the country takes place in the wake of their headline-generating actions of recent months, with the trio having gained greater attention following their appearance at Coachella in April. The group projected strong anti-Israel sentiments during their set – sentiments which they had claimed were censored during their first weekend appearance.
While they would also gain similar attention for their performance at the Glastonbury Festival in June, and would be removed from the lineup of Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival, the group have also faced legal issues.
Most notably, member Mo Chara (born Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) was charged in May for allegedly showing support for militant organizations Hamas and Hezbollah – both of which are defined as terror groups by U.K. law – in resurfaced videos from a past concert.
Chara appeared at Westminster’s Magistrates Court on June 18, where he was released on unconditional bail and set a hearing date of Aug. 20.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 04:17:282025-08-13 04:17:28Kneecap Share Video Message With Sziget Festival Audience Following Hungarian Ban
One of the most iconic guitars used by late rocker Eddie Van Halen is going up for auction, with his 1982 Kramer expected to sell for millions.
New York auction house Sotheby’s will be handling the instrument’s sale this fall as part of their inaugural Grails Week, which runs from Oct. 21-28.
The electric guitar in question was played by Van Halen on tour between 1982 and 1983, with the instrument’s black and white-striped design based upon the rocker’s well-known ‘Frankenstrat’ guitar from 1975.
Per Sotheby’s, Van Halen visited Kramer’s New Jersey factory to modify the instrument, with photos reportedly showing him wielding an electric drill while working on it. Later, the guitar was featured in a famous Kramer advertisement wherein Van Halen can be seen holding the instrument while telling readers “it’s very simply the best guitar you can buy today.”
Van Halen later gifted the instrument to guitar technician Robin “Rudy” Leiren, inscribing it with the phrase, “Rude – Its Been a Great Ten Years – Lets Do Another Ten. Eddie Van Halen.” Leiren later sold the guitar to Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars, who would use it in the recording of their first No. 1 album, 1989’s Dr. Feelgood.
The instrument (which reportedly shows “extensive wear from playing”) also comes with a letter of authenticity signed by Mars who writes, “Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Also it’s a great piece of history.”
According to Sotheby’s, the estimated sale price is between $2-$3 million, which tracks with previous sales of Van Halen’s guitars. While a 2020 auction of three of his instruments sold for $422,000, in 2023 iconic red, white and black-striped guitar from the “Hot For Teacher” video was sold for $3,932,000 by an unnamed bidder.
Van Halen co-founded his eponymous rock band in 1972, remaining their guitarist until his passing in October 2020 following a long battle with cancer.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 03:41:302025-08-13 03:41:30Eddie Van Halen’s 1982 Kramer Guitar Expected to Fetch Over $2 Million at Auction
BigXthaPlug is revealing more of the star-studded collaborations set for his upcoming album, as the Texas musician unveiled the full tracklist for his forthcoming Aug. 22 albumI Hope You’re Happy.
The set will feature collabs with Darius Rucker, Jelly Roll, Ink, Tucker Wetmore, Luke Combs and Thomas Rhett.
“There’s a lot of special features on this project, man,” BigXthaPlug said in an interview with Apple Music at the company’s new Los Angeles studio, listing off the collaborators on his album and adding, “I’m here to tell you, I’ve got my bag with this one.”
He’s already steadily rolling out new music from the album, including the Billboard Hot 100 top five hit “All the Way” with Bailey Zimmerman (which also topped the Hot Country Songs chart), as well as “Home” with Shaboozey and his latest, “Hell at Night” with Ella Langley.
In June, BigXthaPlug was named the innovator of the year at Billboard’s Country Power Players event, held in Nashville.
“I wouldn’t say my version of country music is country music. It’s kind of mixing the two sounds,” he previously told Billboard. “I’m rapping on a bunch of country-style beats, but it’s not just country. I’m not on there sounding like no cowboy; I’m rapping. I’m just doing it from a country standpoint. I’m not saying it was easy — it definitely was a challenge.”
See the full track list for BigXthaPlug’s I Hope You’re Happy below:
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 01:59:502025-08-13 01:59:50BigXthaPlug Reveals Collaborations With Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, Jelly Roll & Thomas Rhett on Upcoming Album
Bad Bunny earns a fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart from his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos to No. 1, as “EoO” lifts 3-1 on the chart dated Aug. 16. The Puerto Rican reaches a historic milestone, becoming the first to have at least four albums each generate four or more No. 1 hits on the overall Latin radio ranking.
Related
‘No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí’: Bad Bunny Brings Pride, Power & Puerto Rican Excellence to Historic Residency Premiere at Coliseo
The Life of a Prolific Pop Star: ‘Showgirl’ Will Be Taylor Swift’s Ninth Full-Length Album of the 2020s
How Preston Cooper Went From ‘The Singing Mailman’ to Writing His First Country Hit With The Warren Brothers
“EoO” lands at the summit on Latin Airplay with 8.6 million in audience impressions (up 14%), earned in the United States during the Aug. 1-7 tracking week, according to Luminate. With the new win, his 29th total leader, Benito breaks from a tie with Daddy Yankee for the fourth-most No. 1s since the chart launched in 1994. He trails J Balvin with 38 No. 1s, the most overall, Ozuna with 35 champs, and Enrique Iglesias with 32.
“EoO” joins Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ previous chart-toppers – all earned since February (following the album’s Jan. 5 release): “EL ClúB,” “Baile Inolvidable” and “DtMF.” The feat mirrors Benito’s prior triumphs, as his 2023 album Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana and 2020’s YHLQMDLG generated four No. 1s each, while 2022’s Un Verano Sin Ti delivered five.
Bad Bunny makes history as the first artist to have four albums each produce four or more No. 1 hits on the Latin Airplay chart. The Puerto Rican surpasses Romeo Santos, who previously earned three albums reaching this benchmark.
Here’s a breakdown of the artists (in alphabetical order) who have had at least one album produce four or more No. 1 hits on the Latin Airplay chart:
Artist, Album, No. 1s (Years the Songs Went to No. 1) Bad Bunny, Un Verano Sin Ti, five, (2019-23) Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG, four, (2020) Bad Bunny, Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana, four, (2023-34) Bad Bunny, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, four, (2025) Enrique Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias, five, (1995-96) Enrique Iglesias, Final (Vol. 1), five, (2015-21) J Balvin, Vibras, four, (2017-18) J Balvin, José, four, (2020-22) Karol G, KG0516, five, (2020-21) Maluma, Don Juan, four, (2021-23) Prince Royce, Llamada Perdida, four, (2021-24) Romeo Santos, Fórmula, Vol. 1, five, (2011-13) Romeo Santos, Fórmula, Vol. 2, five, (2013-15) Romeo Santos, Golden, four, (2017-18) Shakira, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, seven, (2022-24) Wisin, Victory, four, (2016-18) Wisin & Yandel, La Historia De El Dúo, 1, four, (2006-09)
Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “EoO” also jumps 3-1 on the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart, for Benito’s 29th ruler there.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 00:12:532025-08-13 00:12:53Bad Bunny Carves Out a New Piece of Chart History With Latest Latin Airplay No. 1 ‘EoO’
Reneé Rapp scores her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart as her new project, BITE ME, bows atop the list dated Aug. 16. It’s her second top 10 on the tally, following the No. 10-peaking Snow Angel in 2023. BITE ME launches with Rapp’s best sales week ever, 47,000 copies sold in the United States in the week ending Aug. 7, according to Luminate.
Related
Reneé Rapp Earns Her First U.K. No. 1 Album With ‘Bite Me’
The Life of a Prolific Pop Star: ‘Showgirl’ Will Be Taylor Swift’s Ninth Full-Length Album of the 2020s
How Preston Cooper Went From ‘The Singing Mailman’ to Writing His First Country Hit With The Warren Brothers
BITE ME’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across 11 vinyl variants (including signed editions) and five CD variants (including signed editions). Vinyl purchases accounted for 63% of the album’s first-week sales (30,000 of 47,000) and the set launches at No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart.
BITE ME also starts at No. 3 on the overall Billboard 200, marking Rapp’s first top 10 on that list.
Also in the new top 10 of Top Album Sales, $uicidBoy$ land their highest charting album yet with the No. 2 bow of THY KINGDOM COME, Yeat nabs his third top 10-charted project with DANGEROUS SUMMER’s start at No. 3, and the live album from Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton, Live at the Legion, debuts at No. 7.
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. The chart’s history dates back to May 25, 1991, the first week Billboard began tabulating charts with electronically monitored piece count information from SoundScan, now Luminate. Pure album sales were the sole measurement utilized by the Billboard 200 albums chart through the list dated Dec. 6, 2014, after which that chart switched to a methodology that blends album sales with track equivalent album (TEA) units and streaming equivalent album (SEA) units. The new Aug. 16, 2025-dated Top Album Sales chart will be posted in full on Billboard‘s website on Aug. 13.
Back on the Top Album Sales ranking, $uicideBoy$ scores their highest-charting set ever as THY KINGDOM COME debuts at No. 2 with 23,000 copies sold. Vinyl purchases fueled the set’s first-week, with 83% of its sales owed to vinyl (19,000 of 23,000), garnering the hip-hop act its best week ever on vinyl. The project debuts at No. 2 on the Vinyl Albums chart, boosted by its availability across six vinyl variants.
Yeat clocks his third top 10-charted effort on Top Album Sales as DANGEROUS SUMMER starts at No. 3 with 16,000 sold (aided by its availability across three CD variants, all signed, exclusive to his webstore).
TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s chart-topping The Star Chapter: TOGETHER falls to No. 4 (15,000 sold, down 76%) after premiering at No. 1 a week ago. Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out rises 8-5 (11,000, though down 5%) and TWICE’s THIS IS FOR steps 10-6 (8,000, down 6%).
Billy Strings and Bryan Sutton’s Live at the Legion enters at No. 7 on Top Album Sales, following its physical release on CD and vinyl on Aug. 1. It sold nearly 6,000 copies in the latest tracking week, up from a negligible sum in the previous week. (It was previously available to purchase only as a digital download, upon its initial release on April 7.) The set captures the pair’s concert at Nashville’s American Legion Post #82 on April 7, 2024.
Vinyl purchases make up the majority of Live at the Legion’s sales for the week, with 88% of its sales (a little over 5,000) coming from vinyl purchases. Assisted by its availability across three variants, the set starts at No. 4 on Vinyl Albums.
Live at the Legion also reenters the Bluegrass Albums chart at No. 1, for its first week atop the tally, with 6,000 equivalent album units earned. It’s the ninth No. 1 for Strings and first for Sutton.
Rounding out the rest of the top 10 on the latest Top Album Sales chart: Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist’s Alfredo 2 falls 5-8 in its second week (nearly 6,000, down 62%), Tyler Childers’ Snipe Hunter drops 2-9 in its second frame (a little over 5,000, down 80%) and ENHYPEN’s chart-topping DESIRE : UNLEASH rises 14-10 (5,000, up 5%).
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-13 00:12:532025-08-13 00:12:53Reneé Rapp Scores First No. 1 on Top Album Sales Chart With ‘BITE ME’
My Morning Jacket will release a deluxe edition of their 2005 album Z this fall to commemorate the LP’s 20-year anniversary.
Out Oct. 3 via ATO Records, Z‘s expanded edition will include 14 musical and video outtakes, previously unreleased demos and more. The announcement comes in tandem with the release of “Where to Begin,” out Tuesday (Aug. 12) and originally written for and included on the soundtrack to the 2005 Cameron Crowe film Elizabethtown. Listen to the song below.
The project also comes with newly written liner notes by veteran music journalist David Fricke. The deluxe edition will be available digitally, on CD, and as a three album set on pink, coral and blue-colored vinyl. Pre-orders are available now.
As part of the anniversary, the band is also doing a run of shows where they’re playing Z in its entirety. These performances begin this week at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado on Aug. 15, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Aug. 19, at Brooklyn Paramount on Oct. 16, at The Salt Shed in Chicago on Oct. 26 and at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on Nov. 1. These shows are happening amid My Morning Jacket’s wider tour for its most recent album, is, released in March.
“October 4 is the 20th anniversary of our album Z, It’s pretty wild to think about that,” James says in a statement. “To celebrate two decades of it being out in the ether, we’re excited to be turning five of our shows into special Z anniversary shows, where we’ll play that album – and some other songs, don’t worry – front to back.”
The Kentucky-born band’s fourth studio album, Z spent six weeks on the Billboard 200, where it reached No. 67.
Cam’ron just upped the ante in his ongoing feud with actor Omar Gooding.
The rapper-turned-host recently took to Instagram to reveal that he pranked Gooding by hiring him as an actor for a fake movie.
Related
Cam’ron Announces Six-Figure Book Deal to Write His Memoir: ‘I’m Happy to Have This Deal Done’
The Life of a Prolific Pop Star: ‘Showgirl’ Will Be Taylor Swift’s Ninth Full-Length Album of the 2020s
How Preston Cooper Went From ‘The Singing Mailman’ to Writing His First Country Hit With The Warren Brothers
“I booked the n—a to do a movie that’s never coming out like three weeks ago,” Cam told his followers. “Yeah, Omar. That movie that you flew down to Miami for? It ain’t no movie coming out. I booked you. And I was laughing at you behind the scenes. I was there. I was sitting there laughing at you. And you know what? Now you’re coming on Revolt tonight because you signed the paperwork. I could do whatever with the footage.”
He then finished the video by saying he wanted to hire Gooding for a baby shower and claimed that he’s going to start booking his enemies. “Now do another record; I’ma book you for my goddaughter’s baby shower,” he said. “Her sh– is in October and we’ll book you to do all the diss records. I’ll pay you for that too because what I’ma start doing is paying n—as just to laugh at them. It cost me $3,500 to do everything to book you — the hotel, your flight, all that sh–. It costs me $12,000 to $13,000 to go to the NBA game. I’d just rather laugh at you for $3,500.”
He added: “Be careful. This is my new sh–. It’s called, ‘Book My Opps.’”
Gooding then responded with his own video on Instagram saying that he wanted to apologize for what he was about to do to Cam in yet another diss record, saying, “It’s gon’ be diabolical,” before also thanking the Harlem rapper for the free trip to Miami and asked him to book him again.
“Keep booking, I’ma keep spendin’ it,” he said before ending the clip.
The back and forth between Gooding and Killa dates back to a December 2024 episode of Talk With Flee when Cam’ron mistakenly confused Omar Gooding with his older brother Cuba Gooding Jr. by adding the Jr. suffix after the younger Gooding’s name during a conversation with 50 Cent about certain Black actors not having consistent work unless someone like 50 hires them.
“No disrespect to nobody I’m talking about,” Cam said to the Queens filmmaker. “Like Ving Rhames, you sitting around, or Omar Gooding Jr., y’all n—as sitting around — I would have saved my money and shot my own sh– by now — but the Black actor has to sit around for a 50 Cent or somebody in your lane to come pick them up to put them in something.”
Omar Gooding has released three diss records (and counting) aimed at Cam’ron.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-12 23:16:362025-08-12 23:16:36Cam’ron Pranks Omar Gooding by Hiring Actor for Fake Film: ‘Ain’t No Movie Coming Out’
Drake’s lawyers are trying to get their hands on emails and text messages that Universal Music Group (UMG) chief executive Lucian Grainge allegedly sent about the chart-topping Kendrick Lamar diss track “Not Like Us.”
Attorneys for the Canadian superstar (Aubrey Drake Graham) want to make Grainge a key witness in their lawsuit accusing UMG of plotting to boost the popularity of “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s hit 2024 Interscope Records track that called Drake a “certified pedophile.” Interscope is a subsidiary of UMG, as is Drake’s label, Republic Records.
Related
Drake’s Legal Team Names Possible Witnesses in UMG Lawsuit Over ‘Not Like Us’: See the List
Soulja Boy Released From Jail After Prosecutors Decline to Bring Gun Charges
SiriusXM Kicks Off Multi-Channel Artist Residency Initiative With Maroon 5 and Bailey Zimmerman
The case is now in the discovery phase of litigation, in which each side sifts through its documents and turns over relevant files to the other. But UMG has refused to produce Grainge’s emails and texts to Drake’s lawyers, insisting that its CEO had “no meaningful involvement” in the release or promotion of “Not Like Us.”
Now, Drake’s team is seeking a court order that would force UMG to turn over Grainge’s files. In a motion filed Tuesday (Aug. 12), attorney Michael Gottlieb says the company’s refusal “is unsupported by law and would prejudice plaintiff’s ability to test and prove his claims.”
“Plaintiff’s amended complaint contains numerous allegations specific to Grainge, including his role in and knowledge of the scheme to defame and harass plaintiff, and UMG’s use of deceptive business practices regarding the same,” writes Gottlieb. “UMG’s insistence on shielding Grainge from document discovery is unfair, unwarranted and inconsistent with fundamental principles of discovery.”
Gottlieb says in the motion that Grainge holds a “position of control” over artists like Lamar and that, as CEO, he approved the release and promotion of “Not Like Us.” As for Grainge’s supposed motivation for defaming Drake, Gottlieb says the executive is “well known for the encouragement of competition between the UMG record labels” and that the company had an incentive to devalue Drake’s brand in order to gain negotiating leverage ahead of upcoming contract extension talks.
Related
Drake Can Seek Kendrick Lamar’s Record Deal & Other Docs in ‘Not Like Us’ Lawsuit, Judge Says
“If, as UMG claims, Grainge had ‘no meaningful involvement in the matters and decisions at issue in this litigation,’ then UMG will have little, if anything, to produce to plaintiff from his files, and the review process would impose minimal burden on UMG,” adds Gottlieb.
A rep for UMG did not immediately return a request for comment on the motion.
UMG has vehemently denied that it defamed Drake or did anything untoward in its promotion of “Not Like Us.” The company says Drake is just embarrassed after losing his very public rap battle with Lamar and is now trying to “save face” and “salve his wounds” with misguided litigation.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas in New York federal court is currently weighing UMG’s motion to dismiss the case outright as legally invalid. The judge held a hearing earlier this summer, and her ruling could come any day now.
https://i0.wp.com/neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/station.nez_png.png?fit=943%2C511&ssl=1511943Yvetohttps://neztelinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/nez_png.pngYveto2025-08-12 23:02:352025-08-12 23:02:35Drake Wants UMG CEO Lucian Grainge’s Emails, Texts in ‘Not Like Us’ Lawsuit
