UMG MOVES TO DISMISS DRAKE’S DEFAMATION LAWSUIT OVER KENDRICK LAMAR’S SUPER BOWL PERFORMANCE

Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a motion to dismiss Drake’s revised defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance of Not Like Us. The music giant argues that Drake’s claims are legally baseless and driven by hurt pride rather than actual harm.

UMG’s Defense

UMG contends that Drake’s lawsuit falls apart because Lamar’s performance did not include the key lyric calling Drake a “certified pedophile.” The company asserts that the lawsuit is merely a reaction to Lamar’s commercial and creative victory in their public feud, rather than a legitimate defamation claim.

UMG’s legal team further argues that diss tracks have historically contained hyperbolic insults, and allowing Drake’s lawsuit to proceed could chill artistic expression in hip-hop.

Drake attends the "Top Boy" UK Premiere on September 04, 2019 in London ; Kendrick Lamar attends The 2023 Met Gala on May 01, 2023 in New York City. Credit : Karwai Tang/WireImage ; Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty

Drake’s Counterargument

Drake’s legal team maintains that censoring the lyric during the broadcast actually proves its damaging nature. They argue that Lamar’s omission of the word “pedophile” during the Super Bowl performance validates Drake’s claim that the song was defamatory.

However, UMG dismissed this logic, stating that there could be multiple reasons for the lyric’s omission, including potential legal threats from Drake.

The Ongoing Legal Battle

Drake initially sued UMG, not Lamar, over the song’s release, alleging that the company intentionally promoted false and harmful allegations to profit from his damaged reputation.

UMG has fired back, calling Drake’s lawsuit hypocritical, noting that he has also released diss tracks containing equally provocative taunts against Lamar.

The judge is expected to rule on whether the case will proceed in the coming months. If dismissed, it could set a precedent for how diss tracks are legally interpreted in the music industry.