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UMG Blasts Drake Appeal in Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’: ‘That Is Not the Law’
UMG argues Kendrick Lamar's lyrics are hyperbolic opinion typical of rap battles and not factual, supporting dismissal of Drake's defamation suit over 'Not Like Us' lyrics.
- On Friday, March 27, UMG Recordings filed an appellate brief opposing Drake's attempt to revive his defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us."
- Drake sued UMG in 2025 after Lamar released the track, alleging it defamed him as a "pedophile," while UMG claims the rapper is upset about losing a rap feud.
- In an 83-page filing, UMG argues "Not Like Us" falls within a genre typified by "inflammatory putdowns, epithets, fiery rhetoric, vulgarity, and hyperbole," contending reasonable listeners would not view these lyrics as "sober" statements of fact.
- U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the lawsuit in October, ruling fans would not mistake rap battle insults for factual claims; Drake's team challenged this in January as a "dangerous categorical rule."
- Drake's legal team is scheduled to file their final reply to the UMG response on April 17, 2026, as the appeals court prepares to hear arguments in the coming months.
11 Articles
11 Articles
LOL Lawbrey! UMG Drags Drake In Court For 'Critically Undermining' Rap With 'Not Like Us' Lawsuit Appeal
The legal fallout from the most significant rap rivalry of the decade has reached a critical turning point. On Friday, Universal Music Group (UMG) filed a blistering response to the ongoing appeal of Drake‘s lawsuit against the music corporation, arguing that the Canadian superstar is attempting to undermine the very foundation of hip-hop because he is being a sore loser over losing his high-profile beef with Kendrick Lamar. Source: Prince Willi…
UMG Blasts Drake Appeal in Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’: ‘That Is Not the Law’
Universal Music Group (UMG) is firing back at Drake’s appeal seeking to revive his lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” arguing the superstar is trying to “critically undermine” the art of hip-hop because he’s upset he lost a rap beef. Drake’s case accused UMG of defaming him by releasing Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss track, which blasted the rival rapper as a “certified pedophile.” But a judge dismissed it in October by ruling fans woul…
UMG Basically Calls Drake A Sore Loser In Response To His Appeal
Simone Joyner / Drake Universal Music Group (UMG) wants to ensure Drake’s lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss record “Not Like Us” does not get a second life. In a new brief, UMG is basically calling Drake a sore loser, arguing that the appeal of his lawsuit’s 2025 dismissal is attempting to “critically undermine” Hip-Hop because he took a massive L during the battle. In the original lawsuit, Drizzy claimed that the song was defamatory and th…
Universal responds to “nonsensical” defamation appeal filed by the “astoundingly hypocritical” Drake
Drake is “astoundingly hypocritical” and his legal arguments “nonsensical”, as he tries to “turn the law upside down”, all because he’s still bitter about that 2024 diss battle where Kendrick Lamar delivered the “metaphorical killing blow”. If only Universal Music’s lawyers could make their legal filings in the ‘Not Like Us’ defamation case rhyme, the back and forth in this litigation could be as good as the diss battle that caused the big fallo…
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