Drake Appeals Dismissal of UMG Defamation Suit

Drake, the Toronto-based rapper, filed a 60-page appellate brief on Wednesday appealing a federal judge's dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's hit diss track "Not Like Us." The filing, submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan, seeks to revive the case and argues that the song's lyrics falsely portray Drake as a pedophile, causing reputational harm through UMG's promotion.

The lawsuit originated in January 2025, when Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, accused UMG of intentionally marketing Lamar's track to spread false allegations that he had engaged in sexual relations with minors. The song's hook, repeating "certified lover boy, certified pedophile," along with its cover art featuring Drake's Toronto mansion, formed the basis of his claims. Drake did not sue Lamar directly but targeted the label, which distributes both artists' music.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas dismissed the case on October 9, ruling that the lyrics constituted nonactionable opinion rather than verifiable facts. In her decision, Vargas wrote, "The issue in this case is whether 'Not Like Us' can...