Drake Seeks to Reopen Defamation Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s Song ‘Not Like Us’
Drake has officially filed an appeal to challenge the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us. The rapper is seeking to reverse a recent court ruling that blocked his case.
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that Drake could not sue over lyrics in Kendrick’s song that called him a “certified pe*******.” Drake’s team argued that millions of fans took the claim seriously and that it damaged his reputation.
A representative for Drake told Billboard on Wednesday, “This confirms our intent to appeal, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing that filing in the coming weeks.” Universal Music Group has not commented publicly.
The appeal is just the first step. Detailed arguments will come in later briefs before the appeals court, where both sides will present their case. The process could take over a year, and if Drake succeeds, it could mean years more of legal battles.
Not Like Us was released in May 2024 amid a series of diss tracks between Drake and Lamar. The song, which labeled Drake a “certified pe******,” became a hit and won five Grammy Awards, including record and song of the year.
Drake originally filed the lawsuit in January, targeting UMG rather than Lamar himself. His legal team claimed that the label promoted the song, spreading false allegations about him. This unusual move drew widespread attention, as most expected a response to a diss track to stay within the music, not the courts.
Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the case after ten months, saying the lyrics were hyperbolic and not meant to be taken as literal facts. She wrote, “Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pe****** is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff.”
Drake’s lawyers argue on appeal that many fans did take the lyrics seriously. In earlier filings, they stated that “millions of people, all over the world, did understand the [song] as a factual assertion that plaintiff is a pe******.” They believe the case should not have been dismissed so quickly and that they should have had a chance to provide evidence to support these claims.
If the appeals court agrees with Drake, the case could return to Judge Vargas for further discovery and possibly a jury trial, prolonging the legal battle over one of the most talked-about rap feuds in recent memory.
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