9:54 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Universal Music Group tells TMZ ... "Drake, unquestionably one of the world's most accomplished artists and with whom we’ve enjoyed at 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his legal representatives into taking one absurd legal step after another. In Texas last November, his counsel instituted a legal proceeding with much fanfare and bluster. On Monday, they quietly dropped the case."
They continued ... "In New York in January, Drake's counsel filed a defamation lawsuit. Fearful of being sanctioned by the court for asserting false allegations, tonight they amended the complaint to withdraw them only to add more baseless allegations. Two weeks ago, his representatives celebrated a 'win': the granting of a routine discovery motion. That 'win' will become a loss if this frivolous and reckless lawsuit is not dropped in its entirety because Drake will personally be subject to discovery as well. As the old saying goes, ‘be careful what you wish for.’
They concluded ... "Both the Texas and New York proceedings are an affront to all artists and creative expression. Should his legal representatives senselessly keep the New York lawsuit alive, we will demonstrate that all remaining claims are without merit. It is shameful that these foolish and frivolous legal theatrics continue. They are reputationally and financially costly to Drake and have no chance of success."
Drakesays he has new ammo in his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group ... and it's all because ofKendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime show.
Champagne Papi just filed an amended complaint where he specifically mentions Kendrick's performance of "Not Like Us" at Super Bowl LIX.
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In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Drake claims the show "assassinated" his character ... and he says Kendrick excluding the word "pedophile" from the lyrics backs up his claim that the song's content is defamatory.
The legendary rapper is claiming the NFL dangled the opportunity in front of him, only to flip the script and claim they weren't in control of the prestigious show ... while squaring the blame on Jay-Z and Roc Nation!!!
If you recall, Wayne had been campaigning for the hometown SB halftime gig in New Orleans for more than a year, only to reveal how much the snub gutted him in a very public fashion.
Serena Williams says her now-famous Super Bowl dance was "absolutely not" shade aimed at her ex, Drake.
The tennis legend was adamant during a recent interview with Time that her brief appearance at Kendrick Lamar's halftime show during the Eagles vs. Chiefs championship tilt was merely meant to be a shoutout to her hometown -- and nothing more.
The Compton native insisted she "would never" take a shot at Drake like that ... calling those who thought it was a diss "sad."
Kanye West is keeping the shock train rolling -- he's just reignited his beef with Taylor Swift, claiming she’s one of the key reasons he hasn’t ever performed at the Super Bowl.
In a since-deleted X post, Kanye vented, "I never was allowed to do the Super Bowl because of three moments. George Bush don’t care about Black people. The Taylor Swift movement moment. Wearing a MAGA hat."
Ye and T-Swift's public clash has been around for ages ... everyone remembers that infamous MTV Video Music Awards 2009 moment when Kanye crashed her acceptance speech onstage, declaring the award should’ve gone to Beyoncéinstead.
Fans suspect parts of Drake's "Nokia" video are ribbing at Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance a lil bit -- and DJ Whoo Kid loves every bit of the spectacle!!!
TMZ Hip Hop caught up with the SiriusXM vet at LAX on Tuesday and he agrees Drake earned his crown as the "Petty Troll King" this week with the first visual from his recent project "$exy $ongs 4 U."
Towards the end of "Nokia," Drake takes center stage on a white platform surrounded by dancers, reminiscent of the imagery on K. Dot's record-breaking halftime show -- Whoo Kid calls it a Bobby Fischer-sized chess move!
Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show had some viewers wanting to turn their TV off to the point of writing to the FCC about it ... with complaints being made about inappropriate lyrics, raunchy dance moves and apparent anti-American themes -- and a few even taking issue with the Drake beef getting thrown into it.
TMZ Sports obtained all 125 complaints sent to the Federal Communications Commission following K. Dot's Feb. 9 performance ... and the overwhelming majority of them felt it was far from a family-friendly experience.
Many in the bunch accused Kendrick of having a potty mouth, only using Black performers and being divisive with his set ... with several making note of the split American flag visual at one point in the show.
Xavier Worthy filed new court documents on Monday alleging his domestic violence accuser, Tia Jones, cheated on him as he was preparing for Super Bowl LIX.
The Kansas City wideout made the allegation in an application for a protective order in Williamson County, Texas ... as he continued his attempts to explain that he was actually the abused one in his relationship with his now-estranged fiancée.
Worthy stated in the docs the two met in late 2023 at a steakhouse in Austin ... and began a romantic relationship in the spring of 2024. He said by the fall of that same year, though, "I noticed that her attitude started to change."
Conan O'Brien's confusing the Academy Awards with the Super Bowl ... 'cause he says the show's halfway done -- so, it's time for someone to quote Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us."
The show just came back from break ... and, Conan let everyone know the Oscars are at the midway point -- which means it's "time to call Drake a pedophile."
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Conan's referencing Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime show performance last month ... when he rapped the song which calls Drake a predator. During that show, he did censor himself and didn't rap the word.
The 35-year-old tight end talked all about being down in the dumps on his "New Heights" podcast with his brother, Jason, on Wednesday ... when the retired offensive lineman asked his go-to remedy.
"Jason, the only way you can find yourself in the light is to find yourself in the dark first, right?" Travis said. "I listen to music that is very telling of my mood."
President Donald Trump is, in fact, sending White House invitations to the Philadelphia Eagles ... after erronoeus reports suggested the Super Bowl winners would NOT be pulling up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave!
On Tuesday, 47 confirmed his intentions to invite the Eagles squad to his home in D.C. ... while explaining the invitations just aren't in the mail, yet.
The Philadelphia Eagles haven't slowed down their Super Bowl rager just yet -- members of the team took the party to Las Vegas this weekend and popped bottles at one of the hottest nightclubs!!
Saquon Barkley, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and others arrived in Sin City to enjoy the festivities ... and the folks at Wynn Las Vegas rolled out the red carpet for the champs, kicking off the night with a private dinner at the swanky supper club, Delilah.
After chowing down, the guys headed to XS Nightclub, where they were welcomed like true stars in the VIP section.
If Shedeur Sanders wants some tips on how to navigate following a famous dad's footsteps into the NFL ... Patrick Surtain II is offering up some, free of charge.
The newly crowned Defensive Player of the Year -- who's the son of former Miami Dolphins star Patrick Surtain -- told TMZ Sports out at Super Bowl week this month Sanders merely needs to "keep being" himself if he wants to succeed in the pros.
It, of course, is a simple concept ... but as the offspring of Deion Sanders -- Surtain II knows it's not always the easiest task.
Patrick Mahomes Sr. relented last week that the Bourbon St. dust-up between him and John Rocker was, in fact, "staged."
The father of NFL star Patrick Mahomes IImade the admission on Feb. 13, according to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, as officials were questioning him about his trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX.
The docs state Mahomes Sr. -- who was placed on probation last year after pleading guilty to a charge of DWI third or more -- was given permission to travel to watch his son in Louisiana from Feb. 7 through Feb. 10 ... but when he got into a squabble with Rocker, and then subsequently missed a urine test on Feb. 11, officials wanted to know more.
Lil Wayne's daughter Reginae Carter is swatting down critics of his 'SNL 50' performance, especially since they're comparing it to Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl set!!!
The Young Money MC was backed by The Roots and conducted a medley of his classic hits at Radio Music City Hall over the weekend, opposite Miley Cyrus.
Apparently, the negative responses flooded Reginae's timeline ... because she exploded with fury!
Bill Maher has interesting guest fellows -- case in point, Kid Rock, who called out Jay-Z and the NFL for a Halftime show for being pretty much exclusionary -- of white entertainers.
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Kid came out of the gate saying Kendrick Lamar wasn't his cup of tea, but he has mad respect for him because he's unapologetic about his craft. Kendrick doesn't care if a swath of the country isn't into him or even doesn't like him ... he does what he does, just like K.R. Kid Rock celebrated Kendrick, saying he doesn't give a "frog's fat ass" what people think.
But, then things turned ... Kid Rock said were it not for Colin Kaepernick taking a knee, Kendrick would never have ended up center stage at the Super Bowl.
Bad news for NFL fans hoping this was the last Eagles championship for a while ... LeSean McCoy tells TMZ Sports it's very possible Philadelphia goes on a dynastic run from here.
The former Birds tailback said out at LAX just a few days after Philly pounded Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX that he could see at least one more championship on the horizon for his old team.
He praised the squad's O-line and defense ... and called Saquon Barkley "amazing." He added that A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts' other weapons are great too.
