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Drake's label files to dismiss his amended Not Like Us lawsuit

Drake's record label Universal Music Group have filed a motion to dismiss his amended lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's diss track Not Like Us.

The Hotline Bling rapper sued UMG bosses for defamation in January for promoting Not Like Us, in which he is accused of being a paedophile.

In an amended complaint in April, Drake focused on events that had taken place since the initial filing, and claimed that UMG further damaged his reputation by allowing Lamar to perform Not Like Us at the Super Bowl and consenting to the song being played at the 2025 Grammys.

In their motion to dismiss on Wednesday, UMG lawyers called Drake's new allegations "astonishing" and pointed out that Lamar did not use the phrase "certified paedophile" during his Super Bowl performance.

"The focus of Drake's new claims - that 'the largest audience for a Super Bowl halftime show ever' did not hear Lamar call Drake or his crew pedophiles - betrays this case for what it is: Drake's attack on the commercial and creative success of the rap artist who defeated him, rather than the content of Lamar's lyrics," their motion reads, reports Variety.

In a statement to the publication, a UMG spokesperson argued that it was Drake who started the exchange of diss tracks with Lamar last year.

"Nowhere in the hundred-plus page 'legal' blather written by Drake's lawyers do they bother to acknowledge that Drake himself has written and performed massively successful songs containing equally provocative taunts against other artists," they stated. "Apparently, Drake's lawyers believe that when Drake willingly participates in a performative rap-battle of music and poetry, he can be 'defamed' even though he engages in the exact same form of creative expression."

Both musicians are signed to record labels owned by UMG.

Photo: Cover Media
Source: Cover Media
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