Key Points
- Legal Action: Drake is appealing the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group.
- Notice Filed: His lawyers submitted a notice of appeal on October 29, 2025.
- UMG Response: The music group has yet to comment on the ongoing legal situation.
- Court Ruling: The lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Jeannette Vargas, who ruled that Kendrick Lamar’s song did not constitute defamation.
Drake is officially gearing up to fight the dismissal of his defamation and harassment lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the promotion of Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us.”
The OVO rapper’s lawyers filed a notice of appeal on Wednesday (October 29) indicating their intention to oppose the court’s decision earlier this month.
His legal team’s arguments are expected to be made in a separate filing at a later date.
“This confirms our intent to appeal, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing that filing in the coming weeks,” representatives for Drake said in a statement to Variety.
UMG, which Drake had accused of illegally inflating the streams of “Not Like Us” in an attempt to damage his career, has not yet commented on the development.
Update
Drake’s legal team has filed the notice of appeal to appeal the dismissal of Drake’s defamation lawsuit against UMG Recordings over the statements in “Not Like Us”. The case will be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. pic.twitter.com/K4o7x990Zf
— The OVO Docket (@OVODocket) October 29, 2025
Drake’s bombshell lawsuit against the music conglomerate was tossed out on October 9 after Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Kendrick’s hit diss song did not amount to defamation.
“The fact that [‘Not Like Us’] was made in the midst of a rap battle is essential to assessing its impact on a reasonable listener,” Judge Vargas wrote in her ruling.
The judge specifically cited Drake’s earlier diss song “Taylor Made Freestyle,” in which he goaded Kendrick into “talk[ing] about [me] liking young girls.”
Referencing Kendrick’s “I heard you like ’em young” taunt on “Not Like Us,” she wrote: “The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake’s lyrics in the prior song … [A reasonable listener] would conclude that Lamar is rapping hyperbolic vituperations.”
In response to the dismissal, a spokesperson for UMG welcomed the decision by saying: “From the outset, 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.”
