A judge has dismissed Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track "Not Like Us"

 

By Irman Connor | Entertainment Watch

A judge has dismissed Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” ruling the lyrics were opinion, not defamation. Lamar’s song has since become the most successful track of his career, winning five Grammys and dominating streaming charts.  

In what’s being called the most infamous rap battle in hip-hop history, Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Kendrick Lamar’s explosive lyrics in “Not Like Us”—including accusations branding Drake a “certified pedophile”—were part of a heated artistic exchange, not statements of fact. 

The court emphasized that diss tracks are known for hyperbole, trash talk, and metaphorical jabs, and that no reasonable listener would interpret the lyrics as literal truth. Drake’s lawsuit, which targeted his own label UMG rather than Lamar directly, claimed the song spread a “false and malicious narrative” and damaged his reputation. But the judge dismissed the case, stating the track was protected creative expression.

This ruling reignites the debate: is music just music, or does it carry real-world consequences? While the court sided with artistic freedom, Drake’s team argued millions took the lyrics seriously, impacting his brand and public image. Yet ironically, “Not Like Us” didn’t just survive the controversy—it thrived. The track became Lamar’s biggest hit, winning multiple Grammys and headlining the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history. 

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Compared to Drake’s own diss tracks in the feud, Lamar’s song clearly landed the knockout punch both culturally and commercially. Whether this sets a precedent for lyrical immunity or simply marks a moment of rap bravado, one thing’s clear: in this battle, Kendrick didn’t just win the argument—he won the charts.

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