Universal Music Group has motioned to dismiss Drake‘s updated defamation lawsuit over the release of Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us”, writing that the rapper’s allegations against the music giant “are no more than Drake’s attempt to save face for his unsuccessful rap battle with Lamar.”
The motion comes weeks after Drake filed an amended complaint in the case against his own record company, alleging that Lamar’s Super Bowl performance — and Lamar omitting the word “pedophile” during “Not Like Us” — affirmed his claim that the song’s lyrics were defamatory.
Related Stories
In UMG’s dismissal motion, filed late Wednesday evening and reviewed by The Hollywood Reporter, the company called Drake’s claims “astonishing,” further stating that the fact that Lamar didn’t use the word “pedophile” “betrays this case for what it is: Drake’s attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him, rather than the content of Lamar’s lyrics.”
“The amended complaint is without merit and should be dismissed with prejudice,” UMG said.
Drake first sued UMG — not Lamar — over the song’s release back in January, alleging that the company “decided to publish, promote, exploit and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous.” “UMG did so not because it believes any of these false claims to be true, but instead because it would profit from damaging Drake’s reputation,” Drake’s initial complaint said.
The song became one of the biggest songs of 2024 and won Grammys for record and song of the year back in February. In the suit, Drake’s team said the rapper was the subject of harassment since the song released. Before the amended complaint, Drake’s team was granted permission to ask for documents including Kendrick Lamar’s record deal and incentive plans for Interscope CEO John Janick. A rep for Drake’s legal team didn’t immediately respond to request for comment on UMG’s dismissal motion.
UMG’s motion appears to try and paint Drake’s legal actions as hypocritical, as the company said that “Drake was pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar, including that Lamar engaged in domestic abuse and that one of Lamar’s managers is the true father of Lamar’s son.” Only after he lost the battle, UMG said, did Drake call “Not Like Us” defamatory.
UMG also claimed that “diss tracks throughout rap history” are known for “a series of hyperbolic insults,” and that the art form would be “chilled if Drake’s suit were permitted to proceed.”
The company issued a lengthy statement late Wednesday, writing that “nowhere in the hundred-plus page “legal” blather written by Drake’s lawyers do they bother to acknowledge that Drake himself has written and performed massively successful songs containing equally provocative taunts against other artists.”
The company also claimed Drake’s legal team was looking for “evidence of wild conspiracies as to why one song that upset Drake had massive global appeal, but there is nothing to “uncover.”
By working tirelessly in partnership with our artists, we achieve global success for them and their music. Our continuing partnership with Drake and his enduring success is a shining example,” UMG said. “Despite his lawyers’ attempts to silence other artists and threaten the companies that work with them, we remain committed to propelling Drake’s career while maintaining our unwavering support of all our artists’ creative expression. Drake’s included.”
