Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s federal defamation lawsuit, which alleges that the company orchestrated a campaign to damage his reputation by promoting Kendrick Lamar‘s controversial diss track, “Not Like Us.” The motion, filed on March 17, 2025, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, argues that the claims are baseless and that the song is protected as artistic expression under the First Amendment.
Drake’s lawsuit, filed on January 15, 2025, accuses UMG of prioritizing profits over ethics by heavily promoting “Not Like Us,” which includes inflammatory lyrics accusing Drake of pedophilia and other misconduct. The rapper claims these lyrics led to real-world consequences, including an armed attack at his Toronto home in May 2024. Drake’s legal team argues that UMG’s actions caused significant harm to his reputation and personal safety.
UMG’s motion to dismiss counters that diss tracks are a celebrated art form rooted in hyperbolic insults and should not be interpreted as factual statements. “No reasonable listener would believe the lyrics are literal,” UMG’s legal team stated. The company further argued that Drake willingly engaged in the rap feud with Lamar and is now using the lawsuit as an attempt to recover from losing the battle. UMG described the case as “utterly without merit” and called for it to be dismissed with prejudice.
Legal experts are skeptical about Drake’s chances of success. Entertainment attorney Tre Lovell noted that courts typically grant artists wide creative leeway in such cases.
The legal battle has drawn significant attention due to its implications for artistic freedom and accountability in the music industry. While UMG defends “Not Like Us” as protected speech, Drake’s lawsuit underscores concerns about how far artistic expression can go before crossing into reputational harm.
The case is advancing into the discovery phase, with a pretrial conference scheduled for April 2, 2025. Meanwhile, UMG’s motion to dismiss remains pending.
