Universal Moves to Dismiss Drake Defamation Suit Over ‘Not Like Us,’ Says He Lost Kendrick Lamar Rap Battle
Universal Music Group (UMG) moved to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed by Drake over Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” a pivotal track in the ongoing feud between the two rap stars.
In the motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday, which was obtained and reviewed by TheWrap, UMG states the “rhetorical hyperbole” in the song is common in rap diss tracks and thus is not meant to be taken literally, rendering the entire suit “baseless.”
Drake contends the lawsuit is “not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us'” and instead places blame on UMG. However, the music company insists in its motion to dismiss that Drake simply “lost a rap battle that he provoked” and “willingly participated in.”
“Though this lawsuit is baseless against any target, it is plainly about Lamar’s lyrics,” the motion reads. “Drake’s repeated insistence to the contrary does not make it so; instead, it betrays his recognition that his true battle was, and is, with Lamar.”
The Grammy-winning track, which swept all five categories it was nominated for back in February, includes lines like, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young,” and insinuates that the rapper is a pedophile.
The paperwork cites instances where Drake accused Lamar of domestic abuse and that someone else fathered one of Lamar’s children: “Drake has been pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar … but now, after losing the rap battle, Drake claims that ‘Not Like Us’ is defamatory.”
UMG further argues that since Drake is a public figure, he has not yet proven that the company acted with “actual malice” towards him.
The music company also dismisses claims that they manipulated streaming numbers for ‘Not Like Us,’ which Spotify has previously also denied.
In their request to dismiss, UMG argues that allowing the lawsuit to proceed would be “chilling legitimate artistic expression safeguarded by the First Amendment and New York law” and set a dangerous precedent for rap battles and the broader music industry as a whole.
Lamar recently took the stage at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in February where he performed “Not Like Us.” The Drake/Lamar beef has become such a staple of pop culture that it was referenced by Oscars host Conan O’Brien during the March 2 ceremony.
The post Universal Moves to Dismiss Drake Defamation Suit Over ‘Not Like Us,’ Says He Lost Kendrick Lamar Rap Battle appeared first on TheWrap.