""Not Like Us" came out last year at the climax of a highly publicized beef between Drake and Lamar; the song, which was widely regarded as the feud's knockout blow, topped Billboard's Hot 100 and went on to win Grammys for record of the year and song of the year. In February, Lamar performed the song during his halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX."
"In her dismissal of the case, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's criticisms of Drake in "Not Like Us" - including his claim that "I hear you like 'em young" - did not amount to defamation because a "reasonable listener could not have concluded that 'Not Like Us' was conveying objective facts about Drake." The lawsuit put Drake at odds with Universal Music Group, the sprawling record company that releases music by both him and Lamar."
"Drake alleged that UMG had endangered his life by putting out a song that depicted him as a pedophile and "call[ed] for violent retribution against him." He also framed UMG's promotion of "Not Like Us," which he claimed involved bots on streaming services and payola-like practices, as a means of devaluing Drake's music as he and the company prepared to renegotiate a deal."
A federal judge dismissed Drake's defamation suit against Universal Music Group, finding Kendrick Lamar's lyrics in "Not Like Us" could not reasonably be read as assertions of objective fact. Drake alleged UMG endangered his safety by releasing a song that portrayed him as a pedophile and called for violent retribution, and accused the company of promoting the track using bots and payola-like practices to undercut his music before contract talks. UMG called the lawsuit an affront to artistic expression and welcomed the dismissal. Drake intends to appeal. "Not Like Us" topped the Hot 100 and won multiple Grammys.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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