UMG Seeks Dismissal of Drake's Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track

Drake alleges defamation from Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' while UMG defends the song as protected hyperbole in a heated legal battle.

Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a motion to dismiss Drake's defamation lawsuit, arguing that the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' are protected as rhetorical hyperbole under the First Amendment.
Drake's lawsuit claims the song falsely portrays him as a pedophile, causing real-world harm, including threats to his safety and forcing his son to leave school.
UMG asserts that Drake willingly participated in the rap feud, releasing incendiary diss tracks of his own, and is suing only to 'save face' after losing the battle, as many commentators declared Lamar the winner.
The label highlights Drake's prior support for a petition opposing the use of rap lyrics as evidence in legal cases, calling his current lawsuit contradictory.
Lamar's 'Not Like Us' became a cultural phenomenon, winning Grammy Awards, topping charts, and being performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, further intensifying the conflict.