Judge tosses Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music over rap beef with Kendrick Lamar

Key Takeaways:

• Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group for defamation.
• A federal judge tossed out the claim on a Thursday.
• The lyrics calling Drake a pedophile were deemed opinion, not fact.
• Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” sparked the suit.
• The dismissal underscores how courts view artistic expression versus defamation.

Legal Dismissal

A defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group was tossed out by a federal judge on Thursday. According to court documents, the judge ruled that the disputed lyrics, which described Drake as a pedophile, did not constitute defamation because they were deemed opinion protected under the law.

The Rap Feud and Controversial Lyrics

The legal battle revolved around Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us,” released under Universal Music. Within the track, Lamar included provocative lines that Drake claimed tarnished his reputation. However, the court determined that such language is generally recognized as “opinion,” rather than a statement of fact.

Implications of the Ruling

The lawsuit’s dismissal highlights the challenges of proving defamation in creative works. Many rap tracks involve pointed language and insults, but legal precedent often protects them as free expression. This outcome emphasizes the high bar set by courts when determining defamation in artistic and cultural contexts.

Brief Chronology Table

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