Drake’s Lawyers Claim ‘Not Like Us’ Made Millions Believe He’s a Pedophile Amid Legal Battle with Kendrick

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s ongoing rap feud has taken a serious legal turn. The controversy around Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us has intensified, with Drake’s legal team now arguing that the song has led millions to believe he is a paedophile. This comes just days after Universal Music Group (UMG) moved to dismiss Drake’s lawsuit against them for promoting the track.

In legal documents obtained by PEOPLE, Drake’s attorneys challenged UMG’s defense, stating that the label cannot dismiss the claims as mere opinion. “UMG brazenly continued to publish and promote it even after Drake’s home was attacked by a gunman, after his businesses were defaced, after Drake made UMG aware of the falsity of the allegations, and after UMG knew that the public believed the allegations to be true statements of fact,” the filing states.

The lawyers further argued that UMG ignored the widespread impact of the song, which reportedly convinced many listeners that Drake was guilty of the claims implied in the diss track. They claim that Not Like Us went beyond artistic expression and directly damaged Drake’s reputation.

Universal Music Group, in its response, dismissed Drake’s claims, stating that he is upset about losing a rap battle he willingly participated in. “Instead of accepting the loss like an ‘unbothered rapper,’ Drake has chosen to sue his own record label in an attempt to fix his issues,” UMG argued in its motion to dismiss.

They also maintained that Not Like Us is a diss track that falls under rhetorical hyperbole and does not amount to defamation. According to UMG, the lyrics should not be taken as literal accusations but as part of rap culture, where lyrical battles often involve exaggerated insults.

Not Like Us was released in May 2024 as part of Lamar and Drake’s escalating lyrical war. The two have exchanged multiple diss tracks, with a total of nine songs targeting each other. Lamar even performed the track at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, adding to its widespread reach.

As the legal battle continues, the rap feud shows no signs of slowing down. Fans remain divided, with some supporting Lamar’s artistic freedom and others backing Drake’s claims of defamation.