A federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group on Thursday, October 9, 2025, ruling that the Toronto rapper failed to prove Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” made defamatory factual claims about him.
The judge stated that “a reasonable listener could not have concluded that ‘Not Like Us’ was conveying objective facts about Drake,” determining the song represented protected opinion rather than actionable defamation. Drake had sued his own record label earlier this year over UMG’s promotion of the inflammatory track.
The defamation lawsuit centered on Drake’s claims that UMG deliberately amplified Kendrick’s song, which accused him of inappropriate behavior. Drake argued the label’s marketing push damaged his reputation, but the court found the diss track fell under protected speech in the context of an ongoing rap battle.
The Drake lawsuit dismissal marks a significant legal victory for UMG and reinforces First Amendment protections for artistic expression. The decision allows “Not Like Us” to remain available while ending Drake’s attempt to hold his record label liable for promoting his rival’s music.
