Photo Credit: Drake (Instagram)
Drake files a massive 117-page appeal against Universal Music Group over the alleged defamation committed by promoting Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
Back in October, Drake’s legal team told Digital Music News that an appeal would be forthcoming, after a federal judge tossed his $1 billion defamation suit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Now, that action has been filed in a whopping 117-page court document.
Drake’s lawyers argue that Kendrick’s lyrics state as an “unambiguous matter of fact” that Drake is a “certified pedophile,” and that UMG “relentlessly” promoted the song, leading to Drake suffering professional harm.
“The court effectively created an unprecedented and overbroad categorical rule that statements in rap diss tracks can never constitute statements of fact,” write Drake’s attorneys.
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping, Grammy-winning diss track, “Not Like Us,” seemingly put a nail in Drake’s coffin and ended what might now be the most famous rap beef in history. In response, Drake decided to sue his own record label—and not name Kendrick Lamar in the lawsuit.
UMG’s enormous portfolio includes Drake’s label, Republic Records, as well as Kendrick’s original label, Top Dawg Entertainment.
Drake’s initial lawsuit, which was filed in January last year, alleged that the company knowingly spread falsehoods about him by promoting Kendrick’s diss track, which famously accuses Drake of being a pedophile. He argued that millions of people may now believe him to be a pedophile because of the song, and that it’s UMG’s fault for promoting it in the first place.
Two months later, UMG filed to dismiss the suit, asserting that everyone knows rap battles are full of exaggerations on both sides and that Drake knew what he was getting into by participating. Finally, in October, the court tossed the case.
Now, Drake’s appeal puts the ball back in UMG’s proverbial court. The music label giant’s response to the brief is due by March 27.
