Drake was spotted at the Kings-Raptors game in Toronto in 2024. Universal Music Group is seeking to have Drake’s federal defamation lawsuit against the label dismissed over Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.” The label argues that Drake’s lawsuit is an attempt to cover up his loss in a rap battle he initiated. UMG made these statements in a legal filing asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit that Drake filed in January. The filing criticized Drake for suing his own record label instead of accepting defeat gracefully. Drake is currently represented by Republic Records, a division of UMG, while Lamar is represented by Interscope Records, also a UMG division. Drake’s attorney called UMG’s motion a desperate tactic to avoid responsibility for profiting from harmful misinformation. The lawsuit revolves around Lamar’s claim in “Not Like Us” that Drake is a “certified pedophile,” which Drake denies. UMG argued that the diss track falls under nonactionable opinion and rhetorical hyperbole, essential elements of diss tracks in the rap genre. The label also pointed out that Drake had previously used UMG’s platform to make derogatory remarks about Lamar during their feud. The ongoing dispute traces back to a pre-action petition filed by Drake in November, alleging that UMG manipulated streaming services to boost Lamar’s song artificially. UMG denied these allegations, stating there is no evidence of stream manipulation. The feud between Lamar and Drake began in October 2023 and culminated in the release of “Not Like Us” in May 2024, which topped the charts and sparked further controversy.
In January, Rammys was performed by Lamar. He also performed the song in February during his Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. In a defamation lawsuit filed in January against the label, Drake accuses UMG of defaming him in the publishing and promotion of “Not Like Us” and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit references an attempted break-in at Drake’s Toronto home that resulted in a security guard being shot. Drake claims that the incident was a result of UMG’s campaign to create a viral hit that falsely accuses him of being a pedophile and incites violent retribution against him. UMG denied Drake’s claims and called them “illogical” and “frivolous,” stating they will vigorously defend the litigation. Drake has used UMG throughout his career to distribute his music, and in a statement, UMG accused him of trying to silence artistic expression and seek damages from them. Lisa Respers France, reporting for CNN, contributed to this report. To access more CNN news and newsletters, please create an account at CNN.com.
