During a recent live stream, Canadian rapper Drake humorously referred to the music streaming platform Spotify as “Botify.” This remark surfaced during a conversation with fellow artist BenDaDonn, and highlights the ongoing tensions between Drake and the streaming giant, particularly in light of past allegations regarding artificial streaming practices.
In a short clip that has gained traction online, BenDaDonn prompted Drake with the question, “Motivational background music?” to which Drake responded, “You know what they don’t. But I guarantee that they…I can play it on Botify real quick.” This playful jab at Spotify’s credibility seemed to go over BenDaDonn’s head, as he did not acknowledge the joke.
Spotify Wrapped 2025 revealed that Drake remains one of the platform’s most streamed artists, joining the ranks of Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. Despite this success, Drake has previously accused both Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify of manipulating streaming numbers. In November 2022, he filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan court claiming that these companies inflated the popularity of Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” aimed directly at him.
Drake’s legal action alleged that UMG and Spotify had engaged in a scheme to artificially enhance the song’s streaming figures. According to a report by Variety, Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, accused UMG of licensing the track at significantly reduced rates to Spotify, enabling the use of bots to create a false perception of its popularity.
In October 2023, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed Drake’s lawsuit against UMG, a decision that could have implications for how artists address grievances in the streaming era.
Spotify responded to these allegations through a spokesperson, who emphasized that the platform does not benefit from the widespread issue of artificial streaming. “We have invested in always improving, best-in-class systems to combat it,” the representative stated. They further assured that Spotify actively works to eliminate fake streams and bots from its platform.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Drake’s standing on Spotify remains strong. In the 2025 U.S. artist ranking, he was the second most-streamed artist, while Lamar placed fourth in the overall list. This dynamic underscores the complex relationship between artists and streaming services, particularly as disputes over transparency and fairness continue to unfold within the industry.
As the conversation around streaming practices evolves, both Drake’s comedic remarks and serious accusations against major players like Spotify will likely keep the discourse lively in the music industry for the foreseeable future.
