US Court Dismisses Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s Diss Track

A United States federal judge in New York has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Canadian rapper Drake against his record label, Universal Music Group (UMG), over the release and promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track, “Not Like Us.”

The lawsuit, filed in January 2025, accused UMG which manages both artists of prioritizing profits over loyalty by promoting Lamar’s chart-topping song. Drake claimed the track, which included lyrics accusing him of pedophilia, subjected him to “physical threats” and “online harassment.”

However, in her ruling on Thursday, Judge Jeannette Vargas held that Lamar’s lyrics were expressions of artistic opinion rather than factual statements.

“The issue in this case is whether ‘Not Like Us’ can reasonably be understood to convey as a factual matter that Drake is a pedophile,” Vargas stated. “In light of the overall context in which the song was made, the Court holds that it cannot.”


UMG, reacting to the judgment, described Drake’s case as “an affront to artistic freedom.”

“We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career,” the label said.



The high-profile feud between Drake and Lamar dominated global music charts throughout 2024, with both rappers trading increasingly aggressive diss tracks. Lamar ultimately emerged as the clear victor, with “Not Like Us” becoming a cultural phenomenon and topping the Billboard Hot 100.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper later performed the song during his Super Bowl halftime show appearance in February 2025, toning down explicit language but keeping its signature lyrical punch before an audience of over 130 million viewers.

The ruling effectively ends one of the most talked-about legal spats in the hip-hop industry, reaffirming broad legal protections for artistic and creative expression in music.