Drake Appeals to Revive Defamation Case Over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

Drake has officially filed an appeal to challenge the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us. This marks the first step in trying to reverse a recent court ruling that blocked his case.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that Drake could not sue over lyrics in Lamar’s song that labeled him a “certified pe*****.” Drake’s lawyers argued that millions of fans took the lyrics seriously and that they harmed his reputation.

A representative for Drake told Billboard, “This confirms our intent to appeal, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing that filing in the coming weeks.” UMG has not issued a public comment.

The appeal process could take over a year. If Drake is successful, it could restart a lengthy legal battle and potentially lead to more litigation down the line. In the new filing, Drake’s team officially stated their intent to appeal, though detailed arguments will come later in briefs submitted to the appeals court.

Not Like Us was released in May 2024 amid a heated feud between Drake and Lamar. The track, which accused Drake of being a “certified pe*****,” became a hit and earned five Grammy Awards, including record and song of the year.

Drake originally sued UMG, not Lamar, claiming the label promoted the song and spread false allegations about him. This unusual legal move drew attention across the music world, as it is rare for a rapper to respond to a diss track with a lawsuit, especially one targeting their own record label.

Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the case just 10 months after it was filed. She wrote that Lamar’s lyrics were clearly hyperbolic and not intended as factual statements. “Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pe***** is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle… would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff,” she stated.

Drake’s lawyers will argue on appeal that many listeners did take the song seriously. In previous filings, they said that “millions of people, all over the world, did understand the [song] as a factual assertion that plaintiff is a pe*****.” They also contend that the case was dismissed too early, before Drake had a chance to provide evidence supporting his claims.

If the appeals court sides with Drake, the case could return to Judge Vargas for further discovery and possibly a jury trial, extending one of the most publicized legal battles in recent hip-hop history.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!