Drake’s reported lawsuit leads today’s rundown alongside Chad Hugo’s legal response, Bruno Mars’ streaming success, and more.
5. Imani Imani Discusses Learning From Kendrick Lamar
pgLang’s newest signee, Imani Imani, has opened up about spending time in the studio with Kendrick Lamar. Speaking with Wonderland, she described watching his creative process and learning from the energy he brings into the room.
She kept details about the music quiet, so we’ll have to wait to hear what those sessions produced. Still, having Kendrick around to study is a pretty ridiculous classroom setup. Let’s just hope he gave her better game than he gave AZ Chike.
4. Yeat Says He’s Fully Sober
Yeat says he’s fully sober now, sharing that his routine revolves around eating, working out, making music, and hitting the store. “I don’t even drink,” he explained.
Sometimes, the personal update deserves just as much attention as the next release announcement, and this feels like one of those moments. Hopefully, the routine is treating him well. Making music and getting your health together sounds like a pretty solid way to spend your days.
3. Bruno Mars Has This Year’s Top Two Solo Releases on Spotify
According to the shared update, Bruno Mars has the two most-streamed songs released by a solo act this year on Spotify. “Risk It All” leads at No. 1, followed by “I Just Might” at No. 2.
Having one song dominate is impressive enough, but holding the runner-up spot, too? At that point, you’re arguing with yourself over who gets the crown. Bruno clearly has listeners coming back for more, and these two records are doing plenty of the heavy lifting.
2. Chad Hugo Pushes Back Against Pharrell’s Motion to Dismiss
Chad Hugo’s lawyers are challenging Pharrell Williams’ motion to dismiss his lawsuit, accusing Pharrell of trying to rewrite The Neptunes’ history to center on himself. In a new filing, Hugo’s team alleges that Pharrell and his companies control records identifying music created during nearly 50 studio sessions between 2019 and 2021, but supplied “almost nothing” despite repeated requests. His lawyers also defend removing eight previously named songs after further investigation.
Those are Hugo’s arguments, with the dispute still unresolved. For fans who grew up loving The Neptunes, seeing their partnership become a fight over recognition and access to records is a tough watch.
1. Drake Faces Reported Lawsuit Over “Janice STFU“
Drake is reportedly facing a lawsuit from songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield, who alleges that “Janice STFU” uses a chorus identical to a demo he wrote for Drake in lyrics, melody, and cadence. Hirschfield, who previously co-wrote Beyoncé’s “Heated” with Drake, says he created the demo over an FNZ-produced instrumental and sent it to producers connected to Drake without receiving a response. He alleges that the defendants have refused to credit or compensate him and maintain that Drake wrote the chorus himself.
The claims remain unproven, but given Drake’s inarguable history of doing this makes things sticky. I mean, “NOKIA” was stolen, wasn’t it?
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
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