A federal judge in the United States dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Toronto rapper Drake against his record label Universal Music Group (UMG) on Thursday. The judge deemed the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which labeled Drake as a pedophile, as expressions of opinion rather than statements of fact.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, in her written opinion, referred to the contentious rap battle between the two high-profile hip-hop artists. The lawsuit originated from a feud over one of the most popular songs of 2024, which garnered numerous accolades and set streaming records. Vargas stated that the nature of the rap battle and the use of provocative language in “Not Like Us” would not lead a reasonable listener to believe it conveyed verifiable information about Drake.
Drake had filed the lawsuit in January, alleging that UMG knowingly promoted the track containing false pedophilia accusations against him and suggestive of vigilante actions. The lawsuit also claimed that the song had damaged Drake’s reputation and devalued his brand.
Universal Music Group, representing both artists, denied the allegations and expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit. Kendrick Lamar, the artist behind “Not Like Us,” was not a defendant in the legal action.
Drake’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comments following the court’s ruling. The diss track “Not Like Us” was released during a period of exchange of insult tracks between the two musicians. The song specifically targeted Drake, making derogatory references to his background and personal life.
Drake’s lawsuit contended that the track falsely portrayed him as a sex offender and linked to criminal incidents at his Toronto residence. The legal proceedings included oral arguments in June before the judge’s decision to dismiss the case.
