A defamation lawsuit filed by Toronto rapper Drake against his record label Universal Music Group (UMG) was dismissed by a U.S. federal judge. The lawsuit was based on lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” which referred to Drake as a pedophile. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that the lyrics were deemed as opinion rather than factual statements.
The legal dispute arose from a high-profile feud between the two prominent hip-hop artists surrounding a popular song in 2024 that received significant accolades and global recognition. The judge emphasized that within the context of a heated rap battle, the lyrics of “Not Like Us” did not present verifiable facts about Drake, despite the serious nature of the accusation.
Drake’s lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that UMG endorsed and publicized the track containing false allegations against him, impacting his reputation and brand value. Although the lawsuit implicated UMG, the parent company representing both artists denied the accusations and welcomed the court’s decision to dismiss the case.
Kendrick Lamar, the artist behind the controversial track, was not directly involved in the legal action. Drake’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comments following the court’s ruling. The lawsuit claimed that the song defamed Drake by falsely portraying him as a sex offender and linked the track to security incidents at his Toronto residence.
The legal proceedings concluded following oral arguments presented in June, resulting in the judge’s decision to reject the defamation lawsuit against UMG.
