Drake’s record label moves to dismiss his defamation lawsuit over ‘Not Like Us’

• Drake is suing Universal Music Group for distributing Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which he claims falsely accuses him of being a pedophile. UMG argues the lawsuit is baseless, dismissing the track as part of hip-hop culture.
• UMG maintains that diss tracks are rhetorical, not defamatory, and highlights Drake’s history of using similar tactics in rap battles.
• The feud between Drake and Lamar continues to escalate, with both artists trading diss tracks and sparking controversy over their lyrics.

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Drake’s legal battle with Universal Music Group (UMG) may be short-lived. The label has filed a motion to dismiss his defamation lawsuit, arguing that diss tracks are not defamation but a staple of hip-hop culture.

UMG says lawsuit has no merit

Drake sued UMG over its distribution of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” He claimed the song pushed a “false and malicious” narrative that he is a pedophile. But in its filing, UMG dismissed the lawsuit as baseless.

“Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds,” UMG’s motion stated. “Plaintiff’s complaint is utterly without merit and should be dismissed with prejudice.”

The label also blamed Drake for the fallout of his rap battle with Lamar.

Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud escalates

Drake and Lamar have been trading diss tracks since last year, fueling a rap feud that took over social media. But Lamar’s “Not Like Us” landed hard, becoming an unofficial anthem of the summer.

Drake hit back with his own diss tracks, including “Family Matters,” which accused Lamar of domestic abuse and infidelity. However, he didn’t stop there. He also took legal action against UMG, claiming the label actively promoted Lamar’s accusations.

The lawsuit follows Drake’s withdrawal of a separate petition accusing UMG and Spotify of artificially inflating the track’s streaming numbers.

Drake’s legal team pushes back

Drake’s attorney, Michael J. Gottlieb, defended the lawsuit, accusing UMG of profiting from harmful misinformation.

“UMG wants to pretend that this is about a rap battle in order to distract its shareholders, artists, and the public from a simple truth: a greedy company is finally being held responsible for profiting from dangerous misinformation that has already resulted in multiple acts of violence,” Gottlieb told Pitchfork.

In May 2024, a security guard was shot outside Drake’s Toronto mansion after the release of “Not Like Us,” which included references to allegations of child exploitation.

UMG says diss tracks aren’t defamation

UMG’s motion argues that “Not Like Us” is a rap diss, not a factual claim. The filing also calls out Drake’s history of rap feuds, saying he has engaged in the same kind of rhetoric.

“There is no basis for a claim that any person at UMG had the subjective intent to publish false factual statements about Drake,” the motion states. “UMG released a rap diss track, conveying fiery rhetoric and insults—not factual assessments, much less false ones.”

The label also pointed out that it handled the distribution of Drake’s “Family Matters” in the same way it distributed Lamar’s track.

Drake settles lawsuit with iHeartMedia

Drake’s legal battle isn’t just with UMG. He also accused iHeartMedia of taking illegal payments from UMG to boost “Not Like Us” on the radio. That lawsuit was settled earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Drake is pushing forward with his case against UMG. The court recently denied the label’s request to pause discovery. Just a day earlier, Drake filed a motion in a Texas state court seeking permission to depose a UMG executive and obtain documents related to whether the label actively promoted Lamar’s track.

With both sides standing firm, the legal fight over “Not Like Us” is far from over.