The court basically said: “It’s hip-hop, not harassment.”

Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) — sparked by Kendrick Lamar’s explosive 2024 diss track “Not Like Us” — has officially been dismissed. According to court documents, the judge ruled that the song’s lyrics fall under “non-actionable opinion,” effectively ending Drake’s legal challenge.

Following the decision, UMG released a statement celebrating the court’s dismissal: “This suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day. We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”

As for Drake’s team, they released this statement regarding the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against UMG: “We intend to appeal today’s ruling and look forward to having the Court of Appeals review the case.”

“Not Like Us,” which became a cultural phenomenon and a meme factory within hours of its release, has long been hailed as one of the most savage diss tracks in recent history. The song’s impact went far beyond hip-hop — sparking debates about ego, authenticity, and the boundaries of art vs. personal attack. It also took home multiple Grammys and was performed on the massive Super Bowl stage.

With this ruling, it seems the legal battle has reached its end, and the musical one already crowned its winner months ago. I’m sure all parties are ready to move on.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.