Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s lawsuit, arguing that he instigated the rap feud with Kendrick Lamar and is now attempting to deflect from his loss.1 UMG claims Drake essentially asked Lamar to diss him, citing Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” where he used AI-generated 2Pac vocals to provoke a response. They assert that Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is protected under First Amendment free speech rights and is part of hip-hop’s established diss culture.
According to UMG, Drake “lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated,” and his lawsuit is a “misguided attempt to salve his wounds.”2 They contend that Drake is trying to frame the issue as defamatory misinformation because he was defeated.
Drake’s lead attorney, Mike Gottlieb, counters that UMG is attempting to mislead the public by portraying the matter as a mere rap battle.3 He argues that the lawsuit is about holding UMG accountable for profiting from “dangerous misinformation that has already resulted in multiple acts of violence.”4 Gottlieb asserts that UMG is trying to avoid responsibility for “endangering, abusing and taking advantage of its artists.”5
The core of Drake’s lawsuit stems from Lamar’s accusation of pedophilia in “Not Like Us,” a claim Drake alleges UMG profited from and artificially boosted. He points to the song’s success, including five Grammy awards and a Super Bowl performance, as evidence of the damage done.
The court will now hear arguments from both sides. UMG is seeking dismissal, while Drake’s lawyers aim to prove the validity of his claims of injury and unethical conduct by UMG.6 Despite the outcome of the rap battle, Drake remains a leading figure in hip-hop, having topped the 2024 IFPI list as the best-selling hip-hop artist.
