‘Meritless litigation’: Drake’s label blasts his lawsuit, question how his ‘provocative’ words aren’t defamation

Universal Music Group (UMG), the record label representing Drake, has asked the court to throw out the rapper’s updated defamation lawsuit against them. They strongly criticized the lawsuit as having no real basis and claimed it was motivated by Drake’s frustration over the commercial success of Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

UMG’s main argument is that rap lyrics are often exaggerated and should not be taken as literal facts. They say the lyrics in Not Like Us, including the controversial line calling Drake a “certified pedophile,” are a form of artistic expression protected by the First Amendment and should not be treated as factual statements.

UMG told Variety, “Nowhere in the hundred-plus page ‘legal’ blather written by Drake’s lawyers do they bother to acknowledge that Drake himself has written and performed massively successful songs containing equally provocative taunts against other artists. Nor do they mention that it was Drake who started this particular exchange. Apparently, Drake’s lawyers believe that when Drake willingly participates in a performative rap-battle of music and poetry, he can be ‘defamed’ even though he engages in the exact same form of creative expression.”

UMG wants the lawsuit from Drake thrown out

UMG also points out that Drake himself has a long history of using provocative and aggressive lyrics in his own music, including times when he accused Lamar of cheating and violence. UMG argues it is hypocritical for Drake to sue over defamatory lyrics when he has used similar, often harsh, lyrics in his own songs.

Another important part of UMG’s response is their criticism of the evidence Drake included in his updated lawsuit. They say his use of anonymous online comments to prove that people took Lamar’s lyrics literally is weak because anonymous opinions are unreliable and not enough to support a defamation claim.

UMG also argues that Drake’s claim about Lamar leaving out the “certified pedophile” line during the Super Bowl performance does not necessarily prove defamation. They say there could be other reasons for the change, such as avoiding offensive content on live TV or the possibility of Drake threatening more legal action. UMG says these other explanations make Drake’s argument unconvincing.

Drake filed the updated lawsuit after UMG successfully got his first lawsuit dismissed. The new complaint focuses on events that happened after the first lawsuit, including Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show and the song winning a Grammy. UMG’s latest request to dismiss the case argues that the lawsuit is really just an attempt to downplay Lamar’s success rather than a legitimate defamation claim.

The timeline of events supports UMG’s position. Drake first sued UMG in January 2025, accusing them of defamation and harassment over the release and promotion of Not Like Us. After UMG got that lawsuit dismissed, Drake filed an updated complaint in April 2025, focusing on the Super Bowl performance and Grammy win.

UMG’s response repeats their earlier arguments while also addressing the new claims. They also point out that Drake once publicly supported a petition against using rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases. UMG says this past stance contradicts Drake’s current lawsuit, where he is trying to use lyrics as the basis for defamation. Essentially, UMG claims Drake is being inconsistent.