NEW YORK (BN24) — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, ruling that the explosive lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us” were protected opinion and not actionable statements of fact.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas issued the written opinion, which opened by citing “the vitriolic war of words” that erupted in spring 2024 between Drake and Lamar. She described the legal dispute as stemming “from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history,” as the feud spilled from studios to courtrooms.
Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG of intentionally publishing and promoting “Not Like Us” despite its references implying he was a pedophile. He alleged the track defamed him, encouraged vigilante behavior, damaged his reputation, and diminished the value of his brand. The cover art featured an aerial photo of his Toronto mansion, which he claims inspired attempted break-ins and a shooting at the property.
Judge Vargas rejected those claims, ruling that a reasonable listener would not view Lamar’s lyrics as stating objective facts. “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 about Plaintiff,” Vargas wrote.
She noted that the song’s biting lyrics were part of an escalating artistic feud that dominated music headlines in 2024. Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which became one of the year’s biggest songs, attacked Drake as “a colonizer” of rap culture, accused him of liking “’em young,” and mocked his authenticity on Lamar’s West Coast home turf. Drake fired back earlier with “Push Ups,” a track mocking Lamar’s height, shoe size, and achievements. Lamar retaliated in “Euphoria,” leading to a rapid escalation Vargas described as “vicious” and “personal.”
“Not Like Us” achieved historic cultural impact, winning record and song of the year at the Grammys, topping Apple Music’s global streaming charts, and helping make the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show the most watched in history. Vargas wrote that the track “dealt the metaphorical killing blow” in the Drake–Lamar feud, combining incendiary lyrics with a “catchy beat and propulsive bassline.”
Universal Music Group, which represents both artists, denied wrongdoing and celebrated the ruling. “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. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”
Lamar was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Representatives for Drake did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In her conclusion, Judge Vargas emphasized that the insults in “Not Like Us” were “replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language,” all of which are markers of opinion. She ruled that the average listener would not interpret the track as conveying “factchecked verifiable content,” effectively ending Drake’s legal challenge.
