Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit Against Kendrick Lamar Over Not Like Us Lyrics Dismissed
The long-running feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has taken another turn, with a US judge dismissing Drake’s defamation lawsuit over Lamar’s Grammy-winning track Not Like Us.
As reported by BBC, the case centred on lyrics from Not Like Us that accused Drake of being a “certified paedophile.” Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, filed the suit in January against Universal Music Group (UMG) — not Lamar himself — alleging that the label intentionally promoted and profited from defamatory allegations.
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Judge Jeannette A. Vargas rejected the lawsuit, ruling that the lyrics amounted to opinion, not verifiable fact, within the context of what she called “perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history.”
“Although the accusation that the plaintiff is a paedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that Not Like Us imparts verifiable facts,” Vargas wrote in her judgement.
The track, which became one of 2024’s biggest hits, won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys, broke Apple Music streaming records, and helped make the Super Bowl halftime show the most-watched in history.
Drake’s legal team argued the song damaged his reputation and brand value, even linking it to attempted break-ins and a shooting at his Toronto home. However, the judge concluded that listeners would understand Not Like Us as hyperbolic and part of a diss track tradition, not as factual reporting.
A spokesperson for Drake confirmed he intends to appeal the decision: “We look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.” Lamar has not publicly commented.
UMG, meanwhile, welcomed the ruling, calling the lawsuit “an affront to all artists and their creative expression.”
With the dismissal, the Drake vs Kendrick Lamar rivalry — which produced some of hip-hop’s most explosive diss tracks, continues to make waves not just in music, but now also in the courtroom.
