In a riveting legal drama unfolding in New York, a federal judge is weighing the complexities of the rap world in a defamation case brought by the renowned artist, Drake, against Universal Music Group. This legal confrontation arises from the lyrical feuding in Kendrick Lamar’s hit track “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims has defamed him. Universal, which represents both artists, argues that the lyrics are a staple of rap culture—crafted hyperbole common in the genre’s tradition of lyrical sparring—and is seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed.
During a spirited hearing, Judge Jeannette Vargas delved into the cultural nuances of hip-hop, a genre known for its raw creativity and sharp verbal dueling. As the music’s poetic nature clashed with the formal setting of a federal courtroom, Vargas questioned who the ‘ordinary listener’ might be—someone who picks up on the intricate references or otherwise. “There’s so much specialized and nuanced in these lyrics,” she mused.
Neither Kendrick Lamar nor Drake attended the court session that day. The lawsuit traces back to a stormy rivalry between the two hip-hop giants over one of 2024’s defining tracks. The song in question bagged prestigious accolades such as the record of the year and song of the year awards at the Grammys, achieved record-breaking streams on Apple Music, and significantly contributed to the most viewed Super Bowl halftime show to date.
“Not Like Us,” released amidst a series of musical jabs between the two artists, pointedly targets Drake, questioning his authenticity by branding him as a “colonizer” of rap and alienating him from the roots of West Coast rap represented by Lamar’s native Compton, California. The track further alludes to sensitive aspects of Drake’s private life, with insinuating comments like “I hear you like ’em young,” claims that Drake firmly refutes.
In his lawsuit, Drake asserts that the song wrongly accuses him of abhorrent acts and supports dangerous stereotypes, thus jeopardizing his safety and reputation. He cites incidents such as attempted break-ins and the shooting of a security guard at his Toronto residence, which he connects to the negative imagery perpetuated by “Not Like Us.” The song’s cover art featuring an aerial photo of his mansion amplifies these allegations.
Drake’s attorney, Michael Gottlieb, argued that Universal strategically transformed the song into a national phenomenon, transcending the typical hip-hop audience that might understand the contextual backstory and lyrical exaggeration. “The average listener could be a 13-year-old who’s dancing to the song at a bar mitzvah,” Gottlieb noted, prompting the judge to comment humorously, “That would be a very interesting bar mitzvah.”
Universal’s counsel, Rollin Ransom, emphasized that the song was merely part of an ongoing tit-for-tat between Drake and Lamar, explaining that the escalated verbal jabs are characteristic of the artistic expression in rap battles. “What you hear in these rap battles is trash-talking in the extreme, and it is not, and should not be treated as, statements of fact,” he asserted, while apologizing for the explicit language inherent in performing some lyrics from Drake’s own retaliatory track “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from Universal. Drake also targeted iHeartMedia, alleging in a separate Texas filing that the broadcaster accepted illegal payments from Universal to amplify airplay of “Not Like Us.” iHeartMedia has denied these accusations, and the matter was settled in March.
Interestingly, Drake has not pursued legal action against Kendrick Lamar himself.