Drake’s next move revealed after dismissal of defamation lawsuit against UMG over 'Not Like Us'

Drake plans to appeal after a judge dismissed his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) relating to Kendrick Lamar’s hit track “Not Like Us.”

A spokesperson for the rapper confirmed the move on Thursday, saying, “We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”

The decision follows the court’s dismissal of Drake’s complaint, which alleged that UMG had manipulated the song’s success and encouraged what he described as a “false and malicious narrative” portraying him negatively amid his feud with Lamar. The lawsuit, first filed in January, claimed the label’s actions amplified online speculation about the rapper’s character.

The court, however, determined that the lyrics in question amounted to “nonactionable opinion” and approved UMG’s motion to dismiss. In the ruling, the judge noted that the highly publicised feud between the two artists formed the context of a “war of words,” making it unlikely that reasonable listeners would view the song’s lyrics as factual claims.

“The artists’ seven-track rap battle was a ‘war of words’ that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse,” the ruling stated. “Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle... would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that ‘Not Like Us’ imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff.”

Reactions from fans have been divided, with some criticising Drake’s decision to pursue the lawsuit, while others support his intention to appeal. Drake has yet to issue a personal comment on the outcome.