Drake v. Kendrick: From Rap Battle to Legal Battle

Pop culture discourse in the summer of 2024 centered around the diss tracks being released by Kendrick Lamar and Drake against each other. The moment was so mainstream that Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” holds the record of longest song in the number one spot on Hot R&B and Hip Hop Chart at 22 weeks. It also won five Grammy Awards in 2025, including song of the year [1]. This infamous beef was not only pertinent to the pop culture universe, but has entered the world of legal discourse.  

In January 2025, Drake sued Universal Music Group (UMG) for defamation over the “Not Like Us” diss track by Lamar. Drake claims that UMG published and promoted the song despite false pedophilia allegations [2]. Drake’s legal team argues that the false claims encouraged attempted break-ins at his home, the shooting of his security guard, as well as online discourse that damaged his reputation and value ahead of a contract renegotiation with UMG.  

This lawsuit is unique within the defamation sphere because it does not sue the individual that made the false claims, but solely the publisher of the claims. Legal documents specifically state “this lawsuit is not about the artist who created ‘Not Like Us’” [3]. The case is solely filed against UMG for spreading the song so heavily, while well aware that the claims of pedophilia in the song were false and did so in order to profit heavily as the owners of Lamar’s musical catalogue. Drake claims UMG utilized professional connections to arrange the songs’ virality on social media platforms, Grammy nominations, as well as the songs’ performance at the Super Bowl [4]. Additionally, Drake’s lawsuit claims that Lamar’s streams of the song were inflated, with UMG paying for bots to help achieve 30 million streams within the first few days of the songs’ release, per a Spotify employee acting as a whistleblower. [5].  

Drake claims that on July 31 and August 1 in 2024 notifying UMG of the damage Drake was facing, and demanding UMG issue “a retraction and accept its responsibility in promoting and marketing the Defamatory Material” [6]. Drake’s suit claims the purpose of UMG’s actions, in part, was to prepare for upcoming contract negotiations with both Kendrick Laram and Drake. UMG wanted to show Lamar that they could expedite success and improve sales of his records, while devaluing Drake, his music, and brand to gain leverage in contract negotiations in 2025 [7].  

This lawsuit ultimately aims to hold UMG liable for the physical, reputational, emotional, and financial damages to Drake due to the song’s pedophilia accusations. Charges for defamation, harassment in the second degree, and violation of the New York General Business Law were called for [8]. The defamation claim is supported by UMG intentionally publishing both the song and video for “Not Like Us”, knowing that the pedophilia claims against Drake were false and moving ahead regardless. The harassment in the second degree was present in the violence facing Drake’s home after the release of “Not Like Us”, including attempted break-ins and the shooting of his security guard. The violation of New York General Business Law came into play when UMG allegedly “financially incentivized third parties to play, stream, and promote the recording” [9]. The third parties include New York radio stations and Spotify. For relief, Drake is requesting nominal, compensatory, and punitive damages, as well as costs covered for the lawsuit and declaratory and injunctive relief requiring UMG make statements that the claims of pedophilia in “Not Like Us” are false [10].  

While the case has made it clear that it is not about Kendrick Lamar, many have speculated if Drake’s case against UMG is a precursor to a lawsuit against Lamar for defamation. It currently appears these rumors have been more or less fully dispelled. Not only would suing Lamar be poor publicity for Drake, but Drake was a willing participant in the rap beef, making his own claims of domestic violence against Lamar. Additionally, defamation cases are notoriously difficult for public figures to win, with the most crucial burden being to prove there was actual malice in the individual making the false claims. This explains Drake’s move to sue UMG over Kendrick Lamar, as Drake was able to lay out clearly why he believes UMG was motivated to push the false claims: for economic gain.  

Regardless of any monetary damages that may be awarded to Drake from the lawsuit, the damage to his reputation may not be so easily repaired. However, his new music seems to be performing well. His latest album “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” was released on February 14, 2025, and debuted in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 200 [11].  While the album is receiving mixed reviews from the public and critics, it is certainly performing well, and only briefly mentions his beef with Kendrick Lamar in the single “Gimme A Hug” [12]. 

On March 2, 2025, it was reported that Drake had reached a settlement with UMG [13]. Drake's legal team released the following statement: “We are pleased that the parties were able to reach a settlement satisfactory to both sides, and have no further comment on this matter” [14]. The suit is still in the courts as active, with a hearing scheduled for March 5 by UMG’s lawyers to petition the court to dismiss the charges. It is unclear if the settlement between Drake and Universal Music Group will ever be made public.

Sources:

1. Anderson, Trevor, Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Breaks No. 1 Record on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, Billboard, (February 18, 2025), https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kendrick-lamar-breaks-number-one-record-rb-hip-hop-songs-chart-1235904823/ 
2. Collins, Dave, Drake Sues Universal Music for Defamation Related to Kendrick Lamar Diss Track ‘Not Like Us’, AP News, (January 15, 2025), https://apnews.com/article/drake-kendrick-universal-0513635a9bf6bb42feea78522bb59527 
3. Aubrey Drake Graham v. UMG Recordings, Inc., Case 125-cv-00399 (United States District Court, Southern District of New York, 2025) 
4. Id. 
5. Id. 
6. Id.  
7. Id. 
8. Id. 
9. Id. 
10. Id. 
11. France, Lisa Respers, Drake Dropped a New Album and Folks Feel a Way About It, CNN Entertainment, (February 24, 2025), https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/entertainment/drake-new-album/index.html 
12. Id. 
13. The Associated Press. Drake Settles Legal Action Against iHeart Media in Dispute Over ‘Not Like Us’”, NBC News, (March 2, 2025), https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/drake-settles-legal-action-iheartmedia-rcna194389 
14. Id.