According to ABC News, Drake officially filed a notice of appeal after a federal judge tossed his defamation lawsuit against the Universal Music Group tied to Kendrick Lamar’s viral diss track “Not Like Us.” The “Hotline Bling” rapper sued UMG in January, alleging the label promoted the song despite knowing it contained false insinuations that Drake had sexual relations with minors. A judge dismissed the case on Oct. 9, ruling the lyrics were “nonactionable opinion” in the context of a heated rap battle.

The litigation grew from one of hip hop’s most vicious public feuds: eight diss tracks (between the two rappers) dropped across six weeks in 2024, culminating in Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which went on to dominate awards season—winning multiple Grammys and reaching no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. UMG argued the track and its promotion were protected as a form of artistic expression. Drake’s team countered that the label’s actions harmed him.

By filing the appeal with the federal appeals court in Manhattan, Drake aims to revive claims the district court rejected. This legal path could stretch months as judges weigh whether the song’s rhetoric crosses the line from opinion into an allegedly defamatory fact. UMG called the original suit an affront to artistic expression and welcomed the dismissal. Drake’s lawyers said they will continue to pursue accountability. 

This ordeal raises bigger questions about art, context, and liability. At what point does a diss track’s claims or hyperbole become something a court can treat as fact? For Drake, this fight ain’t over.