Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group regarding Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” has been dismissed.
Per Variety, District Judge Jeannette Vargas made the ruling on Thursday, saying that the 2024-released Grammy Award winning song is a “nonactionable opinion” and is not considered defamatory.
“The fact that the Recording was made in the midst of a rap battle is essential to assessing its impact on a reasonable listener,” Judge Vargas said in her ruling.
“Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion… when made in public debate, heated labor dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole.”
A Universal Music Group spokesperson responded to the news in a statement given to Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” the statement reads.
“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.”
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Drake first filed his suit against UMG for defamation and harassment through Lamar’s “Not Like Us” in January. He also sued iHeartMedia for allegedly accepting “covert payments” to promote airplay of Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” from UMG. In March, that suit settled, with a source at iHeartMedia telling Rolling Stone, “In exchange for documents that showed iHeart did nothing wrong, Drake agreed to drop his petition. No payments were made – by either one of us,” a source at iHeartMedia tells Rolling Stone.
The feud between the rappers began when Drake released “Family Matters” on May 3, 2024. The song insinuated that Lamar had cheated on his fiancée and was physically violent with her. Lamar responded with the back-to-back drops of “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us,” with the latter’s hook of “Certified Lover Boy, certified pedophile” becoming an instant and ubiquitous viral sensation
In August, Lucian Grainge, the CEO of Universal Music Group, slammed the lawsuit as “groundless and indeed ridiculous”.
