The legal battle between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG) is heating up, as the music giant moves to dismiss the rapper’s recent amendment to his defamation lawsuit. The case stems from Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track “Not Like Us “and a now-omitted lyric that referenced Drake’s album Certified Lover Boy with the phrase “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles.”
At a recent court hearing, lawyers for both sides argued over the track’s implications, particularly the potentially defamatory lyric. According to Inner City Press, when lawyers explained the lyric was a wordplay on the title of Drake’s sixth studio album, the judge questioned whether the average fan would make the connection. One attorney responded, “The context is all the rumors about Drake and young females.”
Drake amended his original lawsuit in April, specifically citing Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show as an example of UMG’s role in distributing and amplifying the alleged defamation. He pointed out that while the lyric was omitted from the performance, the song’s massive reach — promoted under UMG — caused reputational harm.
In response, UMG’s legal team has pushed back hard, characterizing the lawsuit as more personal than principled.
“As Drake concedes, Lamar’s Super Bowl performance did not include the lyric that Drake or his associates are ‘certified pedophiles,’” UMG’s lawyers stated in their motion, per Variety. “The focus of Drake’s new claims… betrays this case for what it is: Drake’s attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him, rather than the content of Lamar’s lyrics.”
UMG further argues that Drake is engaging in selective outrage, particularly given his lyrical history.
The case marks a rare instance of a rap beef spilling directly into a courtroom — raising complex questions about free speech, artistic expression, and the legal limits of lyrical warfare.
As of now, it remains to be seen whether the judge will grant UMG’s motion to dismiss or allow the case to proceed. Either way, the legal drama between two of the biggest forces in music continues to keep fans — and lawyers — on edge
