A New York judge has dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping track Not Like Us.
Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being “certified paedophiles,” constituted “non-actionable opinion” within the context of a heated rap battle and could not be deemed defamatory.
Drake filed the lawsuit in January, alleging that UMG, which represents both artists, was complicit in spreading a “false and malicious narrative” by allowing and promoting the release of the track. However, in a 38-page judgment, Judge Vargas described the exchange between the two rappers as “the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history,” concluding that “a reasonable listener would not believe the lyrics impart verifiable facts.”
Released in May 2024, Not Like Us became the defining blow in the long-standing feud between Drake and Lamar, earning five Grammy Awards and headlining Lamar’s acclaimed Super Bowl halftime performance in February 2025.
While UMG expressed satisfaction with the ruling, calling the lawsuit “an affront to artistic expression,” Drake’s spokesperson confirmed that the rapper plans to appeal the decision.
Source: BBC
