Drake is still pushing forward with his defamation case against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” as he looks to overturn the lawsuit’s dismissal.
While he’s gearing up for his upcoming album ICEMAN, Drake has also been focused on the legal battle, recently submitting what’s said to be his final appeal brief ahead of oral arguments.
In the new filing, Drake and his legal team introduced fresh arguments, building on points from their earlier brief—which had already faced criticism from some legal experts. Their main goal is to reverse the dismissal and hold the label accountable for what they claim was defamation and manipulation.
The original dismissal came after a federal judge ruled that the song’s lyrics qualified as “non-actionable opinion,” arguing that in the context of a rap feud, “reasonable listeners” would see them as exaggerated rather than factual. Drake’s team, however, strongly disagrees with that interpretation.
One of their key arguments is that “Not Like Us” reached a level of popularity far beyond the other diss tracks, making the broader “rap beef” context less relevant. They specifically pointed to Drake’s own diss, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which was referenced in the judge’s decision, noting that its limited availability online makes it an unfair comparison. According to them, while both tracks are diss records, treating them as equal examples distorts the situation.
Elsewhere, Drake’s appeal brief pushed back against Universal Music Group’s defense in the “Not Like Us” case. His legal team argues that the lyrics go beyond typical rap exaggeration and cross into defamation, especially given how the track was packaged and promoted. They also claim the cover art continues to allude to serious allegations and that the label actively pushed the song in a way that harmed his reputation.
Drake’s attorneys further warned that letting the dismissal stand could create a risky precedent—where any lyrics in a diss track are automatically protected, regardless of how serious the claims are. The next phase of the appeal will involve oral arguments from both sides before a panel of appellate judges, though a date for that hearing hasn’t been set yet.
