October 10, (THEWILL) — A judge has dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s hit song, “Not Like Us”.
Drake filed the lawsuit in January, alleging that UMG spread a “false and malicious narrative” by releasing and promoting the song. His legal team claimed the label “created a viral hit” based on false allegations.
In her ruling, Judge Jeannette Vargas said that Lamar’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being “certified pedophiles”, were “non-actionable opinion” and could not be considered defamatory.
She described the rappers’ feud as “the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history”, calling it a “war of words” full of “profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and hyperbolic language.”
The judge also noted that listeners would not expect “accurate factual reporting” from diss tracks and pointed out that Drake had also used similar language, including lyrics implying Lamar was “a domestic abuser” and questioning the paternity of his child.
A UMG spokesperson welcomed the ruling, calling the lawsuit “an affront to all artists and their creative expression”, while Drake’s spokesperson confirmed plans to appeal, saying, “We look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
Kendrick Lamar is yet to make a comment on the case.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
