A federal judge in the United States dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Toronto rapper Drake against his record label Universal Music Group (UMG). The lawsuit was thrown out based on the judge’s ruling that the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” which labeled Drake as a pedophile, were deemed as expressions of opinion rather than factual statements.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, in a written opinion, highlighted the intense rivalry between the two hip-hop stars over a popular song in 2024. The lawsuit, filed in January, accused UMG of promoting the track containing false allegations of pedophilia against Drake and advocating for vigilante justice. The lawsuit also claimed that the song damaged Drake’s reputation and devalued his brand.
Vargas stated that within the context of a heated rap battle with provocative language and offensive accusations exchanged by both parties, a reasonable listener would not interpret “Not Like Us” as presenting verifiable facts about Drake. UMG, the parent company of both artists, denied the allegations and expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit.
Kendrick Lamar, the artist behind the diss track, was not a defendant in the lawsuit. Drake’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comments. The ongoing dispute between the two artists had escalated with a series of diss tracks, including Lamar’s direct references to Drake, questioning his authenticity in the rap scene and making suggestive remarks about his personal life.
Drake’s lawsuit claimed that the song falsely accused him of engaging in illegal activities, leading to security incidents at his Toronto residence. The judge heard arguments on the dismissal request in June, ultimately ruling in favor of the record label.
