Getty ImagesA judge has dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar’s words, which accused Drake and his associates of being “certified pedophiles,” constituted an “impermissible opinion” and could not be considered defamatory.
Drake filed a lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group (UMG), the label behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the release and promotion of the song, claiming it spread a “false and malicious narrative.”
Drake’s spokesperson said he plans to appeal the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and looks forward to continuing its work with the rapper.
Not Like Us, originally released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between rival rappers.
It became the biggest hit of Lamar’s career, winning five Grammys and being one of the most talked about moments from his Super Bowl halftime show in February.
In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers “the most infamous rap battle in the history of the genre.”
“The seven-track battle between the artists was a ‘war of words’ that was the subject of intense media scrutiny and online discourse,” the judge wrote.
Getty Images“While the accusation that the plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly serious, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with inflammatory remarks and offensive accusations thrown by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ communicates verifiable facts about the plaintiff.”
Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.
His lawyers accused UMG of launching “a campaign to create a viral hit” from a song that contained “false factual allegations that Drake is a criminal pedophile, and suggesting that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response.”
A UMG spokesperson told the BBC’s US media partner CBS News that from the outset the lawsuit “was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should never have seen the light of day”.
“We are pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our successful work to promote Drake’s music and invest in his career,” the spokesperson added.
