Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s amended defamation lawsuit, which he filed in April regarding Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.” This follows Drake’s original lawsuit, filed in January, where he accused UMG of promoting the song in a way that defamed him. In March, UMG filed a motion to dismiss the case, and Drake’s legal team refiled an updated complaint, alleging that UMG continued to promote the song by incorporating it into Lamar’s Super Bowl performance and consenting to its airing at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
UMG’s new motion to dismiss responds to the updated claims, reinforcing their previous arguments. The label’s legal counsel noted that Drake had removed certain false allegations from his original complaint and described his new claims as “astonishing.” Specifically, they pointed out that Lamar’s Super Bowl performance did not include any lyrics calling Drake or his associates “certified pedophiles,” a key part of Drake’s defamation claim. UMG’s lawyers argued that Drake’s current focus on Lamar’s Super Bowl performance and its audience size is a veiled attack on Lamar’s commercial success rather than a legitimate defamation issue.
In a statement to Variety, a UMG spokesperson said that Drake’s lawyers failed to acknowledge that the rapper himself has written provocative lyrics targeting other artists. They emphasized that Drake willingly participates in rap battles and creative exchanges through his music and should not be able to claim defamation for such artistic expressions.
UMG also argued that Drake relied on unreliable sources, including anonymous online comments, to support his defamation claim. They dismissed these comments as unsubstantiated, highlighting that courts typically reject such online-based claims.
Furthermore, UMG noted that Drake had withdrawn his earlier allegations about UMG paying to use bots to promote “Not Like Us.” Instead, Drake is now referencing a different podcast host and a deleted social media post alleging that Lamar used bots. UMG argued that these comments failed to provide credible evidence.
Despite the motion to dismiss, discovery in the case is still ongoing. A judge recently denied UMG’s request to pause the discovery process, allowing Drake to continue seeking access to documents, including Lamar’s contracts with the label.
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