A United States federal judge in New York has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Canadian rapper Drake against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us.”
The ruling, delivered by Judge Jeannette Vargas, marks the end of a months-long legal battle that began after Drake accused his label of prioritizing profits over his reputation and safety.
Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, filed the lawsuit in January 2025, claiming Universal — which represents both him and Lamar — betrayed him by promoting the track. He alleged that the label’s support of the song, which contains lyrics accusing him of pedophilia, led to “a physical threat to Drake’s safety” and “a bombardment of online harassment.”
However, Judge Vargas ruled that the lyrics in Lamar’s chart-topping diss track were not factual claims but rather artistic expressions protected under free speech.
“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 or that he has engaged in sexual relations with minors,” Vargas wrote. “In light of the overall context in which the statements in the recording were made, the Court holds that it cannot.”
Following the ruling, Universal Music Group released a statement calling the lawsuit “an affront to all artists and their creative expression.” The label said, “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, 38, who also won a Pulitzer Prize for his musical work, performed “Not Like Us” during the Super Bowl halftime show in February. Although he removed profanity and the word “pedophile” for the live broadcast, he retained a key lyric, rapping “tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A-minoooooor” to a global audience of over 130 million viewers.
The diss track, released in 2024, became one of the most streamed songs of the year and reignited the long-standing rivalry between Drake and Lamar.
