🎤⚖️ **DRAKE’S “NOT LIKE US” APPEAL GETS A COURT DATE**

Drake’s “Not Like Us” Appeal Heads to Court on December 4

The battle over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is moving from the charts to a federal appeals courtroom. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has scheduled oral arguments for December 4 in Drake’s appeal against Universal Music Group.

Drake sued UMG in January 2025 over its release and promotion of Lamar’s diss track, arguing that the song carried false and defamatory allegations about him. A federal judge dismissed his claims in October 2025, finding that listeners would understand the disputed lyrics as opinion within the context of a rap battle, rather than statements of objective fact.

Drake’s legal team argues that the lower court dismissed the case under an overly broad view of diss tracks and failed to properly consider his claims. UMG maintains that the lyrics must be understood in their artistic and competitive context.

Yeah, at the end of the day, Drake is only trying to push this issue because the song was such a hit. So now he got the whole world legal system looking at should every diss track or rap battle be looked at as defamation of character? At the end of the day isn’t that the whole point, it’s a battle it’s creativity and it’s a battle. The same rules applies in a roasting match.

Facts: Drake fired the first shots

Kendrick responded so epically it shut the whole entire battle down.

December 4 is an oral argument, not a scheduled verdict. A three-judge panel will hear from both sides before deciding whether any part of Drake’s case can move forward. Whatever the outcome, this appeal puts a consequential question before the court: how should the law assess potentially defamatory words delivered through a rap battle?

Source: Music Business Worldwide; Graham v. UMG Recordings, Inc., No. 25-2758.