Drake vs. UMG: Defamation Lawsuit Heats Up as Label Moves to Dismiss Again

The legal drama between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG) continues to escalate. UMG has filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s amended defamation lawsuit, marking the latest development in a high-profile feud sparked by Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track, “Not Like Us.”

Drake’s initial complaint, filed in January, accused UMG of intentionally defaming him by promoting the controversial track. He amended the suit in April to include claims tied to Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show and the Grammy Awards, alleging UMG knowingly amplified damaging lyrics. However, UMG’s counsel countered that the Super Bowl performance omitted the specific lyric at the core of Drake’s claim, exposing the suit as “an attack on creative success,” rather than a legitimate defamation case.

UMG’s legal team also dismissed Drake’s reliance on anonymous online comments, labeling them “notoriously unreliable.” They further noted that Drake quietly withdrew earlier accusations that UMG used bots to boost Lamar’s streams.

Despite the motion to dismiss, discovery continues. Drake’s team is still pursuing access to contracts and internal documents, ensuring the battle between rap royalty and one of music’s biggest labels isn’t over just yet.


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