A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” ruling that the controversial lyrics are protected as nonactionable opinion rather than factual statements. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas found that a reasonable listener would interpret Lamar’s incendiary accusations, including a line alleging Drake was a pedophile—not as verifiable assertions but as rhetorical exaggeration typical of a heated rap feud.
Drake had sued UMG, not Lamar himself, claiming that the label promoted and profited from the track in a way that damaged his reputation and commercial interests. He argued that UMG’s actions transformed Lamar’s artistic expression into harmful falsehoods. In its defense, UMG asserted that holding it liable would stifle creative freedom, and the court ultimately sided with that view.
In her ruling, Judge Vargas emphasized that diss tracks frequently rely on profanity, threats, hyperbole, and figurative language, and that in the context of a public rap war, listeners do not expect every claim to be literally true. She noted that the song’s provocative content was part of a back-and-forth battle between two high-profile artists, making it less likely that the lyrics would be taken as factual allegations. The decision leaves Drake’s only recourse in lodging an appeal, which his legal team has announced.
UMG issued a statement welcoming the dismissal, calling the lawsuit “an affront to all artists and their creative expression.” Drake’s side said it will now seek a review by the appellate court. Meanwhile, the dismissal underscores the tension between reputational claims and freedom of artistic speech in the streaming era, especially when disputes involve wildly popular music, viral promotion, and amplified public feuds.
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