Drake is gearing up for a high-stakes three-week jury trial against Universal Music Group (UMG) following the release of Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss track “Not Like Us.” According to court documents obtained , settlement talks have not occurred, setting the stage for a contentious courtroom showdown in New York.
The legal battle stems from Lamar’s May 2024 track, which escalated the rappers’ public feud by labeling Drake a “certified pedophile” who should be “placed on neighborhood watch.” Though Lamar omitted the explicit term during his February 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance—watched by a record 127.7 million viewers—he smirked while delivering the line, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young.”
Drake’s legal team has vehemently disputed UMG’s defense that Lamar’s lyrics constitute protected opinion. A previous filing argued that millions globally interpreted the track as a factual accusation, citing real-world consequences: a gunman attacking Drake’s home, vandalism at his businesses, and UMG’s alleged indifference despite being notified of the fallout.
The conflict has spilled into their artistry. Drake’s March 31 “Nokia” music video fueled fan theories of a subliminal clapback, with viewers noting visual parallels to Lamar’s diss—from the black-and-white filter to owl imagery (a potential nod to Lamar’s “Not Like Us” cover art).
UMG has dismissed Drake’s lawsuit as a reaction to losing a “rap battle he provoked,” framing it as a misguided attack on his own label. As the trial looms, the case tests the boundaries of artistic expression, corporate liability, and the real-world impact of hip-hop’s most explosive feud in years.
