Drake’s personal label is roasting the rapper over again, saying his second stab on the defamation lawsuit he filed over Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” is so illogical, it’s “incredible.”
In its new motion to dismiss Drake’s lately filed amended grievance, Universal Music Group (UMG) mocked the rapper’s argument that the NFL’s decision to prohibit the phrase “pedophile” from Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime overall performance helps his allegation that “Not Like Us” is defamatory.
“Drake’s new allegations are extraordinary. …The cognizance of Drake’s new claims – that ‘the most important target market for a Super Bowl halftime display ever’ did not pay attention Lamar name Drake or his group pedophiles – betrays this example for what it is: Drake’s assault on the economic and creative achievement of the rap artist who defeated him, in place of the content material of Lamar’s lyrics,” UMG’s new motion filed past due Wednesday reads. It goes on to skewer Drake – and his current wave of legal filings – as a better reason the NFL censored the music on Feb. 9, 2025 – three weeks after Drake to start with sued UMG.
“Drake contends that the selection no longer to consist of the word ‘pedophiles’ (as used within the word ‘certified pedophiles’) in Lamar’s Super Bowl performance ought to simplest reflect that the language is defamatory, however this ignores any number of different factors for the selection – such as threats with the aid of Drake of additional meritless litigation,” the new 33-web page filing obtained via Rolling Stone reads. “These allegations, directly aimed at chilling legitimate inventive expression safeguarded by way of the First Amendment and New York law… are meritless.”
A spokesperson for UMG issued a follow-up assertion Wednesday evening after the brand new motion changed into filed. “Nowhere in the hundred-plus web page ‘legal’ blather written by way of Drake’s attorneys do they trouble to renowned that Drake himself has written and executed hugely a hit songs containing similarly provocative taunts against different artists. Nor do they point out that it turned into Drake who commenced this particular change,” the statement sent to Rolling Stone reads. “Apparently, Drake’s lawyers agree with that when Drake willingly participates in a performative rap struggle of tune and poetry, he can be ‘defamed’ even though he engages within the exact equal shape of innovative expression.”