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 lawsuit was related to Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” where Drake was labeled as a pedophile. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that the lyrics in the song were considered opinions rather than factual statements.
The lawsuit came in the midst of a heated rap battle between the two prominent hip-hop artists over a popular song in 2024. The track in question garnered multiple accolades, including winning record of the year and song of the year at the Grammys, receiving high Apple Music streams worldwide, and contributing to the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show to date.
Judge Vargas emphasized that the nature of the rap battle and the use of provocative language in “Not Like Us” did not present verifiable facts about Drake to a reasonable listener. The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that UMG knowingly promoted false pedophilia accusations against Drake in the song, damaging his reputation and brand value.
UMG, the parent company of both artists, refuted the allegations, stating that the lawsuit undermined artistic expression. Kendrick Lamar was not directly involved in the legal action. Drake’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the dismissal of the lawsuit.
The contentious track, “Not Like Us,” released during a period of back-and-forth diss tracks between the two artists, targeted Drake’s authenticity and reputation in the rap industry. The song hinted at sensitive topics regarding Drake’s personal life, insinuating inappropriate behavior, which he vehemently denied.
Drake’s lawsuit contended that the song falsely portrayed him as a sex offender and linked the track to security incidents at his Toronto residence. The judge considered oral arguments before deciding to dismiss the lawsuit in June. The court’s decision was welcomed by UMG, expressing their commitment to promoting Drake’s music and career moving forward.