Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” has been dismissed by a federal judge.
The judge ruled that the lyrics in the song accusing Drake of being a pedophile are “nonactionable opinion,” meaning they cannot be considered legally defamatory.
The lawsuit targeted UMG, which releases music for both artists, but Kendrick Lamar was not named as a defendant. The judge described the ongoing rap rivalry as one of the most infamous in history, with the diss track being a “metaphorical killing blow.”
The court concluded that a reasonable listener would not interpret the lyrics as stating factual claims about Drake.
Drake plans to appeal the ruling while UMG considers the dismissal a legal victory. Kendrick Lamar has not commented publicly on the decision.
This dismissal marks the end of this particular lawsuit but may continue through appeals. It highlights how courts often see rap diss lyrics as artistic expression and opinion rather than factual accusations.
The track “Not Like Us” won several Grammy awards and was a major highlight of the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
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