Rap superstar Aubrey “Drake” Graham has filed a lawsuit against his own record label, UMG Recordings, Inc., following a highly publicised and contentious rap battle with fellow artist Kendrick Lamar.
The lawsuit, which alleges defamation, harassment, and violations of New York’s General Business Law, has been dismissed by many as an unjustified attempt to recover from a bruising defeat in the court of public opinion.
The feud between Drake and Lamar, which began in early 2024, escalated into one of the most intense rap battles in recent memory. Over the course of two months, the two artists exchanged a series of diss tracks, each more vitriolic than the last.
Lamar’s track Not Like Us, released on May 4, 2024, became a cultural phenomenon, topping charts, winning multiple Grammy Awards, and being performed at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show.
The song’s success cemented Lamar’s victory in the eyes of fans and critics alike, leaving Drake on the losing end of the battle.
Now, Drake is seeking legal recourse, claiming that Not Like Us contains defamatory statements and that UMG, Lamar’s label, engaged in deceptive practices to promote the song. However, legal experts and industry insiders argue that the lawsuit is less about legitimate grievances and more about Drake’s inability to accept defeat.
The Context of the Feud
The rap battle between Drake and Lamar was marked by a series of escalating insults, with both artists trading barbs about each other’s personal lives, careers, and reputations. Drake’s tracks, including Family Matters, accused Lamar of domestic abuse and questioned the paternity of Lamar’s child. Lamar, in turn, fired back with Not Like Us, which included hyperbolic insults and references to long-standing rumors about Drake’s relationships with minors.
In his lawsuit, Drake claims that Lamar’s lyrics crossed the line into defamation, particularly the references to his alleged interest in young girls. However, UMG’s legal team has argued that the lyrics are protected as nonactionable opinion and rhetorical hyperbole, common in the rap genre. They also point out that Drake himself invited Lamar to address these rumors in his earlier track Taylor Made Freestyle, where he used an AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to taunt Lamar into discussing the topic.
“Drake himself called on Lamar to invoke these allegations in ‘Taylor Made Freestyle,’ in which he had Tupac’s AI-generated voice rap that Lamar should ‘talk about [Drake] likin’ young girls,’” UMG’s legal team stated in their motion to dismiss. This admission undermines Drake’s claim that the lyrics in Not Like Us were unexpected or defamatory.
A Legal Hail Mary?
Legal analysts have been quick to point out the weaknesses in Drake’s case. UMG’s motion to dismiss argues that the lyrics in Not Like Us are clearly hyperbolic and part of the long-standing tradition of rap battles, where artists use exaggerated insults to outdo each other. The label also notes that Drake’s own diss tracks were filled with similarly incendiary claims, making his defamation allegations appear hypocritical.
“Drake has been pleased to use UMG’s platform to promote tracks leveling similarly incendiary attacks at Lamar, including, most significantly, that Lamar engaged in domestic abuse and that one of Lamar’s business partners and managers is the true father of Lamar’s son,” UMG’s legal team wrote. “But now, after losing the rap battle, Drake claims that ‘Not Like Us’ is defamatory. It is not.”
UMG’s legal team further argued that “diss tracks are a popular and celebrated artform centered around outrageous insults, and they would be severely chilled if Drake’s suit were permitted to proceed.” This sentiment has been echoed by many in the music industry, who fear that Drake’s lawsuit could set a dangerous precedent for artistic expression in rap.
The Broader Implications
Drake’s lawsuit has sparked a broader debate about the role of artistic expression in rap music. Many in the industry have criticized the lawsuit as an attempt to chill free speech and artistic creativity. “Rap battles have always been about pushing boundaries and using hyperbole to make a point,” said one music critic. “If artists start suing each other over diss tracks, it could have a chilling effect on the genre.”
UMG’s legal team has also dismissed Drake’s claim of harassment, arguing that the lyrics in Not Like Us do not meet the legal threshold for incitement to violence. They point out that Drake’s own tracks contained violent imagery and threats, further undermining his case.
“Drake’s own diss tracks employed imagery at least as violent, such as gunshot sounds, and lyrics like ‘You’re dead, you’re dead. There’s nowhere to hide,’” UMG’s motion states.
Conclusion
As the legal battle unfolds, one thing is clear: Drake’s lawsuit against UMG is widely seen as a desperate attempt to salvage his pride after losing a high-profile rap battle to Kendrick Lamar. Whether the courts will entertain his claims remains to be seen, but for now, the court of public opinion has already rendered its verdict.
In the world of rap, where battles are won and lost on the strength of lyrics and public perception, Drake’s legal maneuver may ultimately do more harm than good to his reputation.
“This lawsuit is no more than Drake’s attempt to save face for his unsuccessful rap battle with Lamar,” UMG’s legal team concluded in their motion. “The court should grant UMG’s motion and dismiss the Complaint with prejudice.”
