Drake has formally escalated his legal battle with Universal Music Group, filing a 60-page opening appellate brief that seeks to revive his defamation lawsuit tied to Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us.” The filing was submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. It challenges a lower court ruling that dismissed the case last fall. Furthermore, it argues that the decision sets a troubling precedent for how courts treat rap lyrics.
At the center of the appeal is Drake’s claim that “Not Like Us” presents an allegation of pedophilia as an objective, verifiable fact rather than protected artistic opinion. According to the brief, the song repeatedly labels Drake a “certified pedophile,” language his attorneys describe as having a “precise meaning” that is “capable of being proven true or false.” The filing argues that this framing crosses the legal line from hyperbolic insult into actionable defamation.
Drake is not suing Kendrick Lamar directly. Instead, the lawsuit targets UMG, which distributes music for both artists. His legal team contends that the label “relentlessly” promoted the track in a misleading manner, amplifying the accusation far beyond the traditional context of a rap battle. The brief points to the song’s mainstream reach and cultural impact. Moreover, it argues that many listeners consumed the track outside of hip-hop’s established diss-track norms and could reasonably interpret the allegations as factual.
The appeal sharply criticizes the October 2025 ruling by U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas, who dismissed the case on the grounds that the lyrics constituted non-actionable opinion. Drake’s attorneys argue that the decision effectively created a “dangerous categorical rule” by suggesting that statements made in rap diss tracks can never be treated as factual assertions. In their view, such a rule would grant broad immunity to artists and labels, even when songs include explicit accusations of serious crimes.
The brief also emphasizes the real-world consequences Drake claims to have suffered. These include reputational damage, heightened security concerns, and ongoing harassment, all of which his team attributes to the scale and intensity of UMG’s promotional efforts. The filing maintains that these harms underscore why the case should proceed beyond the pleading stage and be evaluated by a jury.
This legal fight traces back to the highly publicized Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud of 2024. During that feud, “Not Like Us” emerged as both a commercial juggernaut and a cultural flashpoint.
The case now enters a critical phase. UMG is expected to file its response brief by March 27, 2026. After that date, Drake’s team will have an opportunity to reply.
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