Drake Loses Defamation of Character Lawsuit Against Universal Music Group

Back in January Canadian rapper Drake sent shockwaves through the Hip Hop community after filing an unprecedented defamation of character lawsuit against his own record label, Universal Music Group, for distributing Kendrick Lamar's culture shifting Drake diss track, "Not Like Us [click here if you missed that].

The case has been dismissed...

From The Hollywood Reporter

Universal Music Group will not have to face lawsuit from Drake, who accused the record company of defamation over its distribution and promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

Dismissing the case, U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas found on Thursday that Lamar’s diss track advances “nonactionable opinion” that can’t be considered defamatory.

Lamar (Interscope Records) and Drake (Republic Records) are represented by two different labels in the UMG system. Their rap battle turned to court earlier this year when the Toronto rapper claimed that UMG, which oversaw the distribution of “Not Like Us,” spread defamatory allegations that he’s a PDF file by making secret payments and offering reduced licensing rates to third parties to promote the song, with the goal of devaluing his music and brand amid contract negotiations.