A federal judge in New York has dismissed rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 diss track, “Not Like Us.” The ruling came on October 9, 2025, delivering a significant victory for UMG and Lamar.
Drake had filed the lawsuit in January 2025, claiming that UMG promoted the song to harm his reputation. He alleged that the track included false claims of predatory behavior and that the label used streaming bots and playlists to amplify its reach. The suit sought large damages and an injunction.
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that the song’s lyrics were protected artistic expression, common in rap battles, and not statements a reasonable listener would take as factual. In her 38-page opinion, she described the claims as “nonactionable opinion,” effectively rejecting Drake’s argument.
UMG celebrated the decision as a “win for creative expression,” while Drake’s team announced plans to appeal. Social media users quickly reacted, with discussions on X and Reddit highlighting both support for Lamar and jokes about Drake’s loss.
The ruling reinforces First Amendment protections for lyrical content in hip-hop, though the legal battle may continue with the upcoming appeal. Meanwhile, “Not Like Us” continues to dominate streaming charts and award shows.
