Pusha T Paid A Lot Money To Get Out Of Def Jam Deal And Collab With Kendrick Lamar

Yesterday, we learned that Pusha T’s label, Def Jam, which UMG owns, wouldn’t allow the Clipse to feature Kendrick Lamar on their new album.

UMG’s rationale for forbidding the collab is that there would be too many Drake haters in one song, which could have bolstered Drizzy’s lawsuit alleging that UMG unfairly and illegally promoted Kendrick’s Drake diss “Not Like Us.”

Today, Push’s manager, Steven Vincent, provided more details on what went down, including the seven figures Push paid to get out of his deal and get Kendrick onto his album.

BREAKING: New details emerge from the Clipse/Def Jam split from Pusha T’s manager, Steven Victor:

▫️Pusha T paid 7 figures (!!!) to get out of his deal, with Victor saying they will not sacrifice the art & succumb to external pressures
▫️The objection about the Kendrick feature… pic.twitter.com/YSqcYL6Yww

— Joey (@gothamhiphop) June 3, 2025