Why Drake Lost His Defamation Lawsuit Against Universal Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’
The Canadian rapper failed to gain judicial support after one of the biggest feuds in hip-hop history
A U.S. federal court dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” on October 9. What was arguably the feud of the decade—and without a doubt the song of the year, as confirmed by the Grammys—did not get backing from the court.
In the controversial (and now iconic) track, Kendrick attacks Drake and his circle with several lines implying that the Canadian rapper is interested in “young girls.” In fact, the lyrics go: «Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any bitch that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him (…) Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,» Lamar raps in the diss track.
Here, Kendrick sarcastically targets Drake, suggesting that his «romantic» behavior crosses legal boundaries. He mixes references to people around him and pop culture details, contrasting Drake’s romanticized public persona, “Certified Lover Boy,” with the provocative phrase “Certified pedophiles,” implying that behind his public image, there may be questionable behavior. It’s a blend of mockery, warning, and social commentary wrapped in Kendrick’s signature ironic style.
However, even though the message may seem clear, Judge Jeannette Vargas granted UMG’s motion to dismiss the case from the outset.
Why Did Drake Lose the Case Against UMG Over Kendrick’s “Not Like Us”?
There is very little precedent for rappers suing over diss tracks, as such battles are a common element of hip-hop culture. Examples of legendary lyrical feuds exist throughout history, like Nas vs. Jay-Z or Tupac Shakur vs. The Notorious B.I.G. While there isn’t much case law on the matter, it clearly did not work in court for Drake.
According to Judge Vargas, Kendrick’s insults in ‘Not Like Us’ are a type of hyperbole that cannot be considered defamatory, as listeners would not reasonably interpret the accusations in a diss track as factual statements.
«The artists’ seven-track rap battle was a ‘war of words’ that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse (…) Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff,» Judge Vargas wrote.
In other words, while the lyrics are serious and offensive, the court saw this as a typical “war of words” in diss tracks rather than factual statements that could constitute defamation. The lawsuit targeted UMG—not Kendrick directly—arguing that the label promoted the song in a way that harmed Drake’s reputation, but the court rejected these claims.
Drake can still appeal the decision to a federal appeals court, but for now, the case has ended abruptly with no legal consequences for UMG or Kendrick. The music industry and the hip-hop community reacted with surprise and a measure of relief, as it’s rare for an artist to sue their own label over a diss track.
Timeline of Drake’s Lawsuit Against UMG
The feud began on May 4, 2024, when Kendrick Lamar released the diss track “Not Like Us,” directly targeting Drake and calling him a “certified pedophile.” The next day, Drake responded with “The Heart Part 6,” denying the accusations and continuing the lyrical battle.
Months later, in January 2025, Drake surprised the industry by filing a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming the company had promoted Kendrick’s song in a way that damaged his reputation. The dispute escalated in February 2025, when Kendrick performed “Not Like Us” during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, further amplifying the visibility of the feud. He even mocked Drake’s lawsuit with a message implying amusement at Universal being sued: “I want to perform my favorite song, but you know they like to sue.”
Finally, on October 9, 2025, as noted above, U.S. federal Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the lyrics were typical exaggerations of a rap battle and not verifiable statements of fact, bringing Drake’s legal case to an abrupt end for now.