A federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), ruling that the company cannot be held liable for distributing Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us.”
Drake had alleged that UMG damaged his reputation by promoting the song, which he claimed implied he was a pedophile. But Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the lyrics were “non-actionable opinion,” saying the track couldn’t reasonably be interpreted as making factual claims.
The lawsuit — unusual in that both artists are signed under the UMG umbrella through different labels — marked a rare public clash between labelmates. UMG welcomed the decision, calling the suit “an affront to creative expression,” while Drake’s team said it plans to appeal
This ruling comes months after Lamar’s “Not Like Us” stood out as the most memorable track from last year’s rap beef between the two superstars, sweeping five Grammy Awards — and subsequently giving Kendrick the upper hand in one of hip-hop’s most high-profile squabbles.
