Drake Appeals U.S. Court Ruling in Kendrick Lamar Defamation Dispute

Drake is appealing a court dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group, stemming from Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us" which accused Drake of being a pedophile. The U.S. District Court ruled the lyrics as non-defamatory, emphasizing that rap diss tracks use hyperbole and are not meant to be seen as literal factual claims. Despite the serious nature of the accusation, the judge noted that the broader context of a heated rap battle means reasonable listeners would not interpret the lyrics as verifiable facts. The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, once collaborators, has escalated from musical competition to a historic legal battle involving allegations of streaming manipulation and defamation. Legal analysts note that this case highlights how courts are grappling with the intersection of artistic expression and legal accountability in hip-hop culture worldwide. Drake’s ongoing appeal signals the continuing tension between the music industry’s evolving artistic norms and traditional defamation law.