SC A federal judge in New York dismissed rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), on October 9, 2025. The suit centered on Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” released in May 2024, which included lyrics accusing Drake of being a “certified pedophile”.[1][2][3]
Court’s Findings Dismisses Drake Lawsuit and Legal Reasoning
- Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled the lyrics are “nonactionable opinion,” typical of hyperbolic language used in rap battles, and therefore not defamatory under the law.
- She stated that considering the broader context of the heated rap feud, a reasonable listener would not believe the accusations as literal facts.
- The decision emphasized that the artistic and contentious nature of diss tracks shields them from defamation claims.
- The judge also rejected Drake’s argument that UMG could be liable for promoting the track, finding that republication of a non-defamatory work does not create new liability.[4][5][1]
Background of the Lawsuit
- Drake filed the lawsuit in January 2025, accusing UMG of defamation and harassment by distributing and promoting Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, which he claimed spread a false and harmful narrative.
- Notably, Kendrick Lamar was not named in the lawsuit; Drake targeted UMG as the label releasing both artists’ music.
- The feud featured a series of back-and-forth diss tracks with escalating harsh rhetoric exchanged over several months in 2024.[2][6][1]
Impact and Industry Response
- “Not Like Us” was a major commercial success and critical hit for Lamar, winning five Grammy Awards in 2025, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
- Lamar performed the track during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, further cementing its cultural impact.
- UMG condemned the lawsuit as an attack on artistic expression and expressed satisfaction with the court’s dismissal, reaffirming support for Drake’s career.
- Drake’s legal team stated their intent to appeal the ruling.[7][8][1]
Judge’s Remarks on Context
- The judge highlighted the nature of the dispute as “perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history,” involving “increasingly intense rhetoric, loaded accusations, and violent imagery.”
- She noted the context of profanity, trash-talking, and hyperbolic insults typical in this art form means such statements are not reasonably interpreted as facts.[9][1]
