Kendrick Lamar Lyrics Put Drake in Real Danger, Lawsuit Says
Drake faced the federal courthouse on a sweltering summer afternoon as cameras flashed and whispers filled the hallways.
Inside, Judge Vargas presided with calm authority while lawyers shuffled through stacks of papers, some sealed and others explosive.
The rapper is suing his own label, Universal Music Group, for defamation over Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us.
Drake claims the song falsely labeled him a pedophile and led to death threats as well as actual attacks near his home.
Drake’s attorney opened the case by emphasizing that this is not about rap beef but real-world consequences.
The legal team highlighted that Drake endured a gunfire attack at his Toronto estate, two break-ins, and even had to pull his child from school.
All of this, they argued, was the result of lies promoted by UMG.
The label’s lawyer responded that this is part of rap culture where diss tracks rely on hyperbole and creative expression.
They insisted that suing over such lyrics could chill artistic freedom, pointing out that Drake himself has participated in the same tradition.
Judge Vargas allowed discovery to proceed and rejected UMG’s request to pause the case.
Drake was granted access to Kendrick Lamar’s recording contract, the salaries and bonuses of UMG executives since 2020, and internal communications.
The rapper’s team wants to see whether the label promoted the diss track intentionally for profit.
In August 2025, Drake’s lawyers pushed further, claiming that UMG CEO Lucian Grainge personally supported the track and that his communications should be included in discovery.
UMG denied the claim, saying Grainge is not involved in decisions about individual tracks.
During a highly anticipated hearing, the judge questioned what an ordinary listener would take from the lyrics.
Would they see them as creative insults or as real accusations?
Drake’s team argued the lyrics were impossible to ignore, appearing at the Super Bowl halftime show and the Grammys, reaching billions of viewers.
The label insisted that diss tracks are a celebrated part of rap culture, meant to shock and entertain rather than state facts.
They warned that allowing lawsuits over lyrics could damage the genre.
No verdict was reached that day.
Judge Vargas noted the complexity of balancing artistic expression with potential real-world harm.
The lawsuit, expanded to include claims about the Super Bowl and Grammy promotions, continues toward a possible trial in summer 2026.
Behind the scenes, emotions ran high. Drake, once comfortable with studio battles, found himself caught in a deeply personal corporate war.
His aim was never Kendrick but UMG, the label he had trusted for years.
The company defended itself fiercely, arguing the true issue is protecting artistic freedom.
Fans watched closely online, with some joking about the judge asking if a 13-year-old could understand the lyrics, while others debated whether Drake’s request for contracts and compensation documents was excessive or a clever strategy to expose corporate motives.
