Drake’s Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group Dismissed
The star’s attorneys reportedly plan to appeal the judge’s decision to drop Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar diss track exchanges.
Drake speaks during the first half of NBA game between the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat at Scotiabank Arena on February 1, 2022 in Toronto, Canada.
Cole Burston
A federal judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us" against Universal Music Group. UMG releases both artists' music, and, according to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas said Lamar's lyrics accusing Drake of being a pedophile were not defamatory because they were a "non-actionable opinion.”
“Although the accusation that Plaintiff is a pedophile 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 said.
Drake filed suit against UMG back in January based on the label’s support of "Not Like Us." Drake’s legal team argued that the song's accusation that he is a pedophile put him and his family in danger.
UMG responded to the dismissal.
“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day," UMG said in a statement. The company also said it looked forward to "continuing our work successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career."
“Not Like Us" has become one of the most popular diss songs of all time, winning Grammy Awards, spending two weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 – and another week at No. 1 after Lamar performed it at the Super Bowl halftime show back in February.
