Drake's own record label bakes the rapper again, saying he had a second stab at a libel lawsuit for Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us", which is so illogical, it's "amazing."
Universal Music Group (UMG) mocked the rapper's argument in a new motion to dismiss Drake's recent complaint that the NFL decided to ban Lamar's word "pedophile" in the Super Bowl halftime performance, supporting his allegation that his "not like us" was defamatory.
“Drake’s new allegations are surprising. no Hearing Lamar calling Drake or his partner, pedophile - Betrayed the case: Drake's attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist, he defeated him, not the content of Lamar's lyrics. Prosecuted UMG.
“Drake believes that the decision to not include the word 'pedophile' (used in the term "certified pedophile") in Lamar's Super Bowl show can only reflect that language is defamatory, but this ignores other explanations of any other decision, such as conquering other valid lawsuits through other useful lawsuits,” the new 33 page files far farther the 33 page files created over the 33 page fear over of New files far of the 33 page files of the 33 page files over the 33 page files over the 33 page. Rolling stones read. “These allegations are directly intended to keep the First Amendment and New York Law in apathetic legal artistic expression…unprecedented.”
A UMG spokesman issued a follow-up statement Wednesday night after the new motion was proposed. “In more than a hundred pages of 'law' blather written by Drake’s lawyer, none of them would admit that Drake himself had written and performed a large number of successful songs, which contained the same provocations against other artists. Rolling stones read. “Obviously, Drake’s lawyers believe that when Drake is willing to participate in the battle of performative rap music and poetry, he can “defame” even if he participates in the exact same creative form of expression.”
UMG asked the judge to monitor the case in the Manhattan Federal Court to dismiss the 107-page amended complaint because they failed to state any practicable claims. Drake's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
Nine rap wars at the Center for Legal Wars began making headlines in April 2024. When Drake released "Family Affairs" on May 3, 2024, it exploded. The song suggests that Lamar deceived his fiancé and committed physical violence on her. Lamar's back-to-back drips with "Meet Grahams" and "Don't Like Us", whose "Certified Lover Boy, Certified Pedophilia" hook becomes an instant and ubiquitous viral feeling.
Lamar was declared the winner in the Public Opinion Court. Drake reorganized with his attorney and brought the matter to the civil court. In November, he filed an exploratory petition to seek records from UMG, IheartMedia and Spotify. He accused the company's planners of artificially exaggerating the success of "not liking us".
On January 15, Drake dropped his initial 81-page lawsuit, accusing UMG of defamation and harassment. He blamed UMG for all the blame, claiming that the company, rather than Lamar, released and promoted the track, should be held liable for his alleged damages. Drake claims his lawyer sent a letter to UMG last July saying he warned that he was suffering "specific and significant harm." The letter specifically mentioned that on May 7, 2024, a shooting outside a Toronto home in Drake was injured by a bomb. Drake claims the shooting was motivated by a strong backlash caused by “not like us.”
Drake claimed in the lawsuit that UMG used "every weapon in the arsenal" to turn "don't like us" into a monster at his expense. He claimed the song was "designated to convey a specific, clear and false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal pedophile." He accused UMG of choosing "the safety and well-being of corporate greedy artists."
A spokesman said in a statement shared by UMG on Wednesday that Drake and his attorneys could “continuously seek to find evidence of a wild conspiracy that shows why a frustrating Drake song has a huge global appeal, but nothing can ``reveal the secrets.
"Our ongoing partnership with Drake and his lasting success are a brilliant example," the spokesperson said. "While his attorneys try to keep other artists silent and threaten the companies they work with, we remain committed to advancing Drake's career while maintaining our firm support for the creative expression of all artists, including Drake."
UMG said in a previous motion to dismiss Drake's initial complaint that Drake encouraged the rap war and now wants to change the rules. "The plaintiff was one of the most successful record artists of all time, losing the rap battle he caused and willing to participate. Instead of accepting the losses suffered as unpopular rap artists he often claims to be, he misleading his record label to misunderstand his own record label to misunderstand his wounds," wrote UMG lawyer. The tag says no real listener thinks Drake is a "certified pedophile."
Experts say Rolling stones The bar was tall and Drake got the lawsuit. They say that music, especially combat theory, is an art form in which insults are considered exaggerated as protected by the First Amendment.
"Don't Like Us" became the best-selling rap record of 2024 and won a Grammy Award including Song of the Year. Lamar performed the song in the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show and performed it to record audiences.