Universal Music Group has moved to dismiss Drake‘s defamation lawsuit after the rapper amended his complaint regarding Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us.” According to Rolling Stone, UMG blasted the 38-year-old’s lawsuit as “astonishing” in a new filing on Wednesday (May 7).
In its argument, the label explained its stance that the Grammy-winner took the rap beef to the courtroom only after he was defeated by the Los Angeles rhymer.
Drake at h.wood Group & Revolve’s ‘Homecoming Weekend’ at the Pacific Design Center on February 12, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Roger Kisby/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
“Drake’s new allegations are astonishing,” claimed UMG’s motion, per RS. “The focus of Drake’s new claims — that ‘the largest audience for a Super Bowl halftime show ever’ did not hear Lamar call Drake or his crew pedophiles — betrays this case for what it is: Drake’s attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him, rather than the content of Lamar’s lyrics.”
It continued to detail, “These allegations, directly aimed at chilling legitimate artistic expression safeguarded by the First Amendment and New York law … are meritless.”
Last month, the Views rapper amended his defamation lawsuit against the corporation with accusations that UMG used Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show and the 2025 Grammy Awards to conspire against him and defame his name.
In his filing, he argued that Super Bowl viewers, “including millions of children…never before heard the song or any of the songs that preceded it. It was the first, and will hopefully be the last, Super Bowl halftime show orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist.”
The Toronto-bred musician also claimed Kendrick Lamar omitted the word “pedophile” from the live show, “because nearly everyone understands that it is defamatory to falsely brand someone a ‘certified pedophile.’”
Mustard, Kendrick Lamar at Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images
“Nowhere in the hundred-plus page ‘legal’ blather written by Drake’s lawyers do they bother to acknowledge that Drake himself has written and performed massively successful songs containing equally provocative taunts against other artists. Nor do they mention that it was Drake who started this particular exchange,” detailed a follow-up statement from UMG to Rolling Stone.
“Despite his lawyers’ attempts to silence other artists and threaten the companies that work with them, we remain committed to propelling Drake’s career while maintaining our unwavering support of all our artists’ creative expression. Drake’s included.”
“Not Like Us” won five Grammy Awards at the 2025 ceremony: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. The party-ready diss track is currently up for Video Of The Year and the Viewers’ Choice Award at the 2025 BET Awards, where the Compton rhymer is the top nominee.
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