Drake’s amended “Not Like Us” defamation lawsuit is being sought to be dismissed by UMG

“It was Drake who started this particular exchange,” the record company clarified. 

The rapper Drake has revised his complaint about Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” and Universal Music Group has moved to dismiss Drake’s defamation case. UMG called the 38-year-old’s complaint “astonishing” in a new filing on Wednesday (May 7), according to Rolling Stone.

The Grammy-winning rapper only took the rap feud to court after losing to the Los Angeles rhymer, the company rationalized in its argument. 

UMG’s motion stated, “Drake’s new allegations are astonishing,” according to RS. Drake’s recent accusations that “the largest audience for a Super Bowl halftime show ever” did not hear Lamar refer to Drake and his crew as pedophiles expose this case for what it is: Drake’s criticism of the rap artist who defeated him, not the content of Lamar’s lyrics.

“These accusations, which are directly intended to suppress lawful artistic expression protected by the First Amendment and New York law … are without merit,” it went on to explain.

The Views rapper this month added charges that UMG conspired against him and defamed his identity by using Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance and the 2025 Grammy Awards to his defamation lawsuit against the company. 

He claimed in his lawsuit that the song and all of the music that came before it were unfamiliar to Super Bowl viewers, “including millions of children.” It was the first Super Bowl halftime concert designed to destroy the reputation of another artist, and hopefully the last.

Because almost everyone knows that it is libel to falsely label someone a “certified pedophile,” the Toronto-born singer also asserted that Kendrick Lamar did not use the word “pedophile” during the live performance.

In the more than 100 pages of “legal” nonsense that Drake’s attorneys have created, they make no attempt to admit that Drake has penned and performed extremely popular songs that contain equally offensive jabs at other musicians. In a follow-up statement to Rolling Stone, UMG said, “They also don’t mention that Drake initiated this specific exchange.”

“Even though his attorneys have tried to intimidate other musicians and threaten the businesses that collaborate with them, we are still dedicated to advancing Drake’s career and upholding our steadfast support of the artistic expression of all of our artists. Drake is among them.

Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video were the five Grammy Awards that “Not Like Us” took home in the 2025 ceremony. Currently, the Compton rhymer is the top nominee for both the Viewers’ Choice Award and Video Of The Year at the 2025 BET Awards for the party-ready diss hit.