Drake Appeals Defamation Lawsuit Ruling Over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' Diss Track
Drake has officially filed an appeal against a court ruling that dismissed his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) regarding Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The legal move aims to overturn the decision made by a federal judge earlier this month, which prevented Drake from suing over the lyrics that labeled him a "certified pedophile." Drake's lawyers, who argue that many fans took the claim literally, had already expressed their intention to appeal the ruling.
The appeals process could extend for more than a year, prolonging the ongoing legal dispute that has captured the attention of the music industry and the hip-hop community. If the appeals court rules in favor of Drake, it could lead to further years of litigation. In the recent court filing, Drake formally announced his appeal without providing detailed arguments, which will be presented in subsequent briefs at the appeals court where both legal teams will present their case.
A representative for Drake confirmed the appeal and expressed anticipation for the Court of Appeals to review the filing in the upcoming weeks. Universal Music Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The dispute between Drake and Kendrick Lamar escalated with the release of "Not Like Us" in May 2024, sparking a series of diss tracks between the two UMG artists. The song, which accused Drake of being a "certified pedophile," garnered commercial success and multiple Grammy Awards.
Drake's lawsuit against UMG alleged that the label had defamed him by promoting the controversial track. The legal action surprised many in the music industry, as it is uncommon for a rapper to respond to a diss track with a lawsuit, especially against their own record label. The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Jeannette Vargas just 10 months after it was filed, who deemed the lyrics in question as hyperbolic statements rather than factual claims.
The judge highlighted the context of the rap battle between the two artists, stating that the provocative language and insults exchanged in the diss track did not convey verifiable facts about Drake. Despite the serious nature of the accusation, the judge concluded that the nature of the rap battle and the use of figurative language did not lead listeners to believe that the lyrics in "Not Like Us" were presenting factual information about Drake.