A federal choose has reportedly dismissed Drake’s defamation lawsuit towards Universal music Group (UMG), bringing an finish to the rapper’s authorized combat over Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss observe, “Not Like Us.”

According to experiences, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas issued the ruling on October 9, 2025, concluding that the controversial lyrics on the middle of the dispute—the place Lamar accused Drake of being a “certified pedophile” and implied misconduct—have been protected speech below the First Amendment.

The Case:

We beforehand reported that Drake filed the lawsuit earlier this yr, alleging that UMG, which represents each him and Kendrick Lamar, defamed and broken his repute by distributing and monetizing “Not Like Us.”

The observe, which dominated charts and social media following its launch, was extensively thought to be the decisive blow within the extremely publicized rap feud between the 2 artists.

Court Documents:

In courtroom paperwork, Drake’s authorized staff argued that UMG knowingly profited from the tune regardless of its “false and malicious” lyrics, claiming the corporate had an obligation to forestall the discharge of content material that might endanger his security or repute.

UMG, nevertheless, pushed again, asserting that diss tracks are a acknowledged type of creative expression, rooted in exaggeration, metaphor, and rhetorical aptitude. Their attorneys maintained that no cheap listener would interpret the lyrics as literal factual claims.

Judge Vargas sided with UMG, writing that the lyrics constituted “rhetorical hyperbole and opinion” inside the cultural context of a rap battle.
“The statements in question would not be understood by a reasonable listener as factual allegations,” she famous in her opinion. “They are part of a longstanding artistic tradition of exaggerated, often confrontational expression.”

The courtroom discovered that Lamar’s lyrics—although harsh—fell squarely below the safety of free speech, and that UMG couldn’t be held answerable for distributing an artist’s artistic work.

Drake has but to publicly converse out in regards to the dismissal of the case.