50 Cent Defends Drake Amid Legal Fight with Universal Music Group, Citing Industry Exploitation
50 Cent has publicly thrown his weight behind Drake in the rapper’s ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG). During a candid appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast on Monday (Dec. 16), the New York rap legend voiced support for Drake’s claims while shedding light on what he believes are unethical practices within the music industry.
“Everything Drake said in that lawsuit, they did it,” 50 Cent declared, drawing parallels between Drake’s allegations and his own struggles with G-Unit’s label, Interscope Records—a UMG subsidiary.
50 Cent Reflects on G-Unit’s Industry Woes
Reflecting on his experiences with Interscope, 50 Cent recounted the infamous “G-Unot” campaign led by The Game after their fallout. The boycott was so impactful that The Game claims 50 Cent and Interscope head Jimmy Iovine paid him $1 million to stop using the phrase after he trademarked it.
“They see it as business, not personal,” 50 explained. “They’re just selling music. You’ll take it personally because you think you made them a lot of money, but for them, it’s nothing personal at all.”
Drake’s Lawsuit Against UMG
Drake’s legal battle with UMG involves two significant allegations. First, Drake accuses the music giant of manipulating Kendrick Lamar’s streaming numbers for “Not Like Us” through bots, payola, and other illegal methods. Second, Drake claims UMG knowingly distributed the track despite its alleged defamatory lyrics, including accusations of pedophilia.
The controversy escalated following the widespread success of “Not Like Us,” a track that has fueled an ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
50 Cent Backs Drake’s Tactics
During the interview, 50 Cent explained why he supports Drake’s aggressive stance, even though Kendrick Lamar is closely tied to his mentor, Dr. Dre. “Look at how Drake is going after everyone. Doesn’t that feel like something 50 Cent would do? That’s where that energy comes from,” 50 remarked, highlighting Drake’s strategic efforts to fight back publicly.
50 further speculated that Drake’s lawsuit might have a broader purpose: preventing Kendrick Lamar from performing “Not Like Us” during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in February 2025. “If it’s what I think it is, I get it,” he said. “[Drake is] trying to stop the song from being played at the Super Bowl because it could cause more harm.”
The Bigger Picture: Music Industry Realities
50 Cent’s comments have reignited debates about corporate control within the music industry and the extremes artists face to protect their reputations and careers. The situation highlights a ruthless reality: while artists create cultural legacies, major labels prioritize profits over personal relationships.
For 50 Cent, Drake’s battle with UMG is just another example of how business interests often overshadow loyalty in the music world. “It’s never personal for them,” he emphasized.
As the feud unfolds, both Drake’s legal fight and Kendrick Lamar’s anticipated Super Bowl performance will remain at the center of conversations in music and entertainment.
