A Manhattan federal court has closed the chapter on Drake’s legal fight over Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us.” U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar’s lyrics, which called Drake a pedophile, are considered “nonactionable opinion” and therefore not defamatory.
Judge Vargas emphasized that, in the heat of a rap feud filled with provocative and inflammatory lines, a reasonable listener would not interpret the song as stating verifiable facts.
Universal Music Group, which releases both artists’ work, welcomed the decision. The label said the lawsuit “was an affront to all artists and their creative expression” and expressed eagerness to continue supporting Drake’s career.
The feud between Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, and Lamar has fueled a series of high-profile diss tracks over the years. Drake had targeted UMG rather than Lamar, citing the company’s role in promoting the controversial song and profiting from it, while First Amendment protections make suing an individual artist over lyrics especially challenging.
“Not Like Us” has been a commercial juggernaut, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for multiple weeks and earning Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. Its prominence only grew after Lamar performed it during the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year.
