"A reasonable listener would conclude that rapper Kendrick Lamar was "rapping hyperbolic vituperations" when he called rapper and singer Drake a "certified pedophile" in his 2024 song "Not Like Us," a federal judge said last week in an order tossing Drake's defamation lawsuit over the statement. In an Oct. 9 order, U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas of the Southern District of New York called Lamar's lyrics "nonactionable opinion," written amid "a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants.""
"Drake had sued the Universal Music Group for an alleged "defamation-for-profit strategy" that included promoting "Not Like Us" and arranging for Lamar to perform it at the 2025 Super Bowl. The Universal Music Group has a division that also represents Drake. Vargas granted the Universal Music Group's motion to dismiss the entire suit, which included claims for defamation, harassment and deceptive acts."
U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas ruled that a reasonable listener would view Kendrick Lamar's lyric calling Drake a "certified pedophile" as "rapping hyperbolic vituperations" and classified the lyric as nonactionable opinion. The comment appeared in Lamar's 2024 song "Not Like Us" amid a heated rap battle with incendiary language and accusations by both participants. Drake sued Universal Music Group alleging a "defamation-for-profit strategy" that promoted the song and arranged a Super Bowl performance. Universal has a division that also represents Drake. Vargas granted Universal's motion to dismiss the suit, which included claims for defamation, harassment and deceptive acts. Drake plans to appeal.
Read at ABA Journal
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