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Universal Music Group has just filed a motion saying they want to get rid of Drake’s lawsuit because Kendrick Lamar’s rap song "Not Like Us" is protected free speech. The legal dispute stems from the song’s controversial lyrics, which the Canadian rapper alleges falsely depict him as a p*****ile and have put his safety at risk.
In a motion filed in federal court in Manhattan, Universal Music makes a move. They say the lyrics aren't literal but more like hyperbole, and this is their artistic expression and is covered by the First Amendment.
Michael Gottlieb, Drake’s legal representative, dismissed UMG’s motion as a strategic move to evade accountability. He asserted that the case would proceed and shed light on what he described as UMG’s "long history of endangering and abusing its artists."
Drake's lawsuit and allegations
The dispute gained momentum after the release of Lamar’s "Not Like Us" on May 4, 2024, a direct response to the Canadian rapper’s "Family Matters." In his song, the Thank Me Later singer reportedly questioned Lamar’s personal life, including allegations of infidelity and domestic issues. Kendrick Lamar took a shot back with the single "Not Like Us." The song won Grammys for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Drake filed his defamation lawsuit on January 15, 2025, claiming that the song had severe real-world consequences. According to the complaint, the track contributed to break-in attempts at his home, forcing him to remove his son from school and relocate from Toronto. The lawsuit seeks damages for defamation and harassment.
UMG, however, criticized the Nothing Was the Same singer's legal approach, arguing that he had previously supported artistic freedom. The label cited a June 2022 petition signed by the Take Care singer that condemned the use of song lyrics as evidence in criminal proceedings. According to UMG, the Canadian singer's lawsuit contradicts the stance he took then, making his claims legally inconsistent.
UMG said,
"Drake was right then and is wrong now. Diss tracks are a popular and celebrated artform centered around outrageous insults, and they would be severely chilled if Drake's suit were permitted to proceed."
The legal battle unfolds as public opinion largely favors Lamar, with many fans and commentators declaring him the winner of the high-profile rap feud. The case, titled Graham v. UMG Recordings Inc., is currently before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, under case number 25-00399.
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The judge's decision that comes out of this lawsuit could have a big impact on artists' freedom of expression in this whole rap verse smackdown world. Freedom counts, and that's why this case is so interesting and important.
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