A defamation lawsuit filed by Toronto rapper Drake against his record label Universal Music Group (UMG) was dismissed by a U.S. federal judge on Thursday. The judge, Jeannette A. Vargas, ruled that the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” referring to Drake as a pedophile were deemed as opinion rather than factual statements.
The lawsuit stemmed from a high-profile feud between the two prominent hip-hop artists over a popular song in 2024. This track achieved significant recognition, winning multiple Grammy awards and garnering high streaming numbers on platforms like Apple Music. It also contributed to the record-breaking viewership of the Super Bowl halftime show that year.
Judge Vargas emphasized that the contentious nature of rap battles, coupled with provocative language and accusations exchanged between the artists, would not lead a reasonable listener to interpret “Not Like Us” as presenting verifiable facts about Drake. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that UMG promoted the track containing false pedophilia allegations against Drake, which tarnished his reputation and diminished his brand value.
Universal Music Group, representing both artists, refuted the allegations, asserting that the lawsuit undermined artistic expression and creativity. The label expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to dismiss the case and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Drake’s music and supporting his career.
Although Kendrick Lamar was not directly involved in the legal dispute, Drake’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comments. The ongoing feud between the artists involved a series of diss tracks, with “Not Like Us” by Lamar specifically targeting Drake and questioning his credibility within the rap community.
Drake’s lawsuit accused the song of falsely portraying him as a sex offender and engaging in pedophilic behavior, attributing incidents like attempted break-ins and a security guard shooting at his Toronto residence to the track. The judge considered oral arguments regarding the lawsuit’s dismissal in June.
The contentious legal battle reflects the complexities of artistic expression and the blurred lines between opinionated lyrics and defamatory statements within the rap industry.
