A US federal judge on Thursday dismissed a libel lawsuit brought by Toronto rapper Drake against his label Universal Music Group (UMG), ruling that lyrics in a Kendrick Lamar diss track branded the superstar a pedophile. Not like us there were opinions.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas dismissed the lawsuit in writing it began with a reference to a “fierce war of words” and a claim that the case arose from “perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the history of the genre.”
The case stems from an epic feud between two of hip-hop's biggest stars over one of the biggest songs of 2024, which won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, received the most Apple Music streams worldwide and helped make this year's Super Bowl halftime show the most-watched ever.
Vargas said a reasonable listener could not have reached that conclusion. Not like us conveyed objective facts about Drake.
“While Plaintiff's allegation of pedophilia is certainly serious, the broader context of a heated rap battle with incendiary language and offensive accusations made by both participants would not lead a reasonable listener to believe that Not like us reports verifiable facts about the plaintiff,” Vargas wrote.
The lawsuit, filed in January, alleged that UMG published and promoted the track even though it falsely accused Drake of pedophilia and encouraged listeners to resort to vigilantism.
The suit also alleged that the track tarnished his reputation and diminished the value of his brand.
Universal Music Group, the parent label of both artists, denied the allegations.
“From the very beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should never have seen the light of day,” UMG said in a statement. “We are pleased with the court's decision and look forward to continuing our work to successfully promote Drake's music and invest in his career.”
Lamar was not named in the lawsuit.
There was no immediate response to requests for comment from Drake's representatives.
Musician and TV host Odario Williams talks about the moment Kendrick Lamar performed his Grammy Award-winning Drake diss track Not Like Us in front of a sold-out crowd in Toronto.
Not like us was released as the two artists traded a barrage of offensive tracks. Lamar's song named Canadian-born Drake and questioned his authenticity, attacking him as a “colonizer” of rap culture who is “not like us” in Lamar's home turf of Compton, California, and, more broadly, West Coast rap.
Not like us also makes hints about Drake's sex life, including, “I heard you like them young,” hints he rejects.
In his lawsuit, Drake claimed the song was a “false accusation against him of a sex crime, pedophilia” and more.
He also blamed the song for the attempted break-in and shooting of a security guard at his Toronto home. The mansion was featured in an aerial photograph on the cover of the song.
In June, the judge heard oral arguments on the motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
