UMG Seeks Dismissal of Drake's Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track

Legal Drama Intensifies Between Drake and His Own Label

The heated rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has now reached courtrooms, with Universal Music Group (UMG)—Drake's own record label—seeking once again to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by the rapper. The conflict revolves around Lamar's explosive diss track Not Like Us, which Drake alleges was promoted by UMG despite containing damaging lyrics.

The Backstory: Drake’s Accusations

Drake first filed a lawsuit in January 2025, accusing UMG of launching a "smear campaign" against him by actively supporting and promoting Lamar's track. The rapper claimed that the song included defamatory lyrics aimed at damaging his reputation, specifically referencing a now-notorious line that labeled Drake and his associates as "certified pedophiles."

Drake's legal team argued that UMG’s involvement in promoting the track, coupled with its exposure at high-profile events like the Super Bowl and 2025 Grammy Awards, contributed to public belief in the defamatory claims.

UMG’s Initial Response

UMG quickly countered with a motion to dismiss in March, calling Drake’s accusations baseless and misleading. They emphasized that their role as a music distributor does not equate to endorsement or responsibility for an artist’s lyrics.

Drake Doubles Down With Amended Complaint

In April, Drake's legal team refiled an amended complaint, doubling down on his claims. The updated filing introduced new elements:

• The inclusion of Not Like Us in Kendrick Lamar’s widely-watched Super Bowl halftime show.
• Its prominent presence at the Grammy Awards, where it received widespread media coverage.
• Allegations that UMG promoted the track despite knowing its controversial nature.

Drake also attempted to support his claim by referencing online reactions from social media users, podcasters, and commentators who interpreted Lamar’s lyrics as factual.

UMG’s New Motion: "Cherry-Picked Conspiracies"

UMG filed a new motion on May 7, repeating their argument that the case lacks legal merit. They claimed that Drake’s team had removed earlier “obviously false” allegations—like claims that UMG used bots to inflate streams—and replaced them with equally weak ones.

In their court filing, UMG attorneys highlighted that:

• Lamar's Super Bowl performance did not include the most controversial lyric.
• The lyric in question was artistic hyperbole, not a factual statement.
• Drake’s reliance on anonymous online comments does not meet legal standards for defamation.

UMG Blasts Drake’s Legal Strategy

In a statement to Variety, a UMG spokesperson slammed Drake’s approach: “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. Nor do they mention that it was Drake who started this particular exchange.”

The label insists that Drake’s lawsuit is a distraction, built on "wild conspiracies" and unverified claims from social media. They also emphasized their ongoing business partnership with the rapper, pointing to his continued success under the UMG banner.

What’s Next

The court will now evaluate UMG’s motion to dismiss and determine whether Drake’s amended complaint has enough legal standing to proceed. If the judge agrees with UMG, the lawsuit could be thrown out altogether. If not, the case could head to trial—adding a legal layer to one of the most watched rap feuds in years.

For now, the legal saga continues as fans, critics, and industry insiders wait to see how this dramatic chapter between two of hip-hop’s biggest names—and one powerful record label—unfolds.