NEW YORK, UNITED STATES: In a major legal development from the global music scene, rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) has been dismissed by a U.S. federal judge, marking a significant victory for freedom of artistic expression.
Drake had accused UMG of promoting Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us”, which contained lyrics referring to him as a “pedophile.” The Canadian rapper argued that UMG had distributed and benefited from the song despite its alleged defamatory nature. However, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that the lyrics fall under the scope of “nonactionable opinion”, emphasizing that in the context of a rap feud, listeners understand such remarks as rhetorical and exaggerated, not factual assertions.
The court further stated that UMG cannot be held liable for promoting a song that expresses artistic opinion, underscoring the fine balance between creative freedom and reputational harm. The ruling effectively reinforces that rap battles often use figurative, provocative language as part of their cultural expression.
While UMG welcomed the verdict as a defense of “creative integrity,” Drake’s legal team has hinted at an appeal, maintaining that the song went beyond artistic license and damaged his public image.
The dismissal ends one chapter in the high-profile feud between the two rap icons but keeps the wider debate alive—where does artistic freedom end and defamation begin?
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