Decide tosses Drake's defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'

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NEW YORK (AP) — A federal decide tossed out a defamation lawsuit that Drake introduced towards Common Music Group on Thursday, ruling that lyrics branding the celebrity as a pedophile in Kendrick Lamar's dis monitor “Not Like Us” had been opinion.

Decide Jeannette A. Vargas rejected the go well with in a written opinion that started by citing “the vitriolic disagreement” and saying the case arose “from maybe probably the most notorious rap battle within the style's historical past.”

The case stemmed from an epic feud between two of hip-hop’s greatest stars over one in all 2024 greatest songs, which received document of the 12 months and music of the 12 months on the Grammys, received probably the most Apple Music streams worldwide and helped make this 12 months's Tremendous Bowl halftime present probably the most watched ever.

Vargas stated an affordable listener couldn't have concluded that “Not Like Us” was conveying goal information about Drake.

“Though the accusation that Plaintiff is a pedophile is definitely a severe one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each individuals, wouldn't incline the affordable listener to imagine that “Not Like Us” imparts verifiable information about Plaintiff,” Vargas wrote.

Filed in January, the lawsuit alleged that UMG revealed and promoted the monitor though it included false pedophilia allegations towards Drake and prompt listeners ought to resort to vigilante justice.

The lawsuit additionally alleged that the monitor tarnished his repute and decreased the worth of his model.

Common Music Group, the dad or mum document label for each artists, denied the allegations.

“From the outset, this go well with was an affront to all artists and their artistic expression and by no means ought to have seen the sunshine of day,” UMG stated in an announcement. “We’re happy with the court docket’s dismissal and sit up for persevering with our work efficiently selling Drake’s music and investing in his profession.”

Lamar was not named within the lawsuit.

There was no quick response to mails despatched to representatives for Drake searching for remark.

“Not Like Us” was launched as the 2 artists had been buying and selling a flurry of insult tracks. Lamar’s music known as out the Canadian-born Drake by identify and impugned his authenticity, attacking him as “a colonizer” of rap tradition who’s “not like us” in Lamar’s dwelling turf of Compton, California, and, extra broadly, West Coast rap.

“Not Like Us” additionally makes insinuations about Drake’s intercourse life, together with, “I hear you want ’em younger” — implications that he rejects.

In his lawsuit Drake asserted that the music quantities to “falsely accusing him of being a intercourse offender, partaking in pedophilic acts” and extra.

He additionally blamed the tune for tried break-ins and the taking pictures of a safety guard at his Toronto dwelling. The mansion was depicted in an aerial photograph within the music’s cowl artwork.