Drake's 'Not Like Us' Lawsuit Trial May Span Three Weeks
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Synopsis
Drake's upcoming trial against Universal Music Group could last three weeks as a result of Kendrick Lamar's controversial diss track. Legal documents indicate that settlement talks have not taken place, highlighting the ongoing tension between the two artists.
Key Takeaways
- Drake is in a legal battle with Universal Music Group.
- The trial is expected to last three weeks in New York.
- Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' sparked the conflict.
- The Super Bowl performance featured Lamar's controversial lyrics.
- Drake's new music video 'Nokia' may be a response to Lamar.
Los Angeles, April 10 (NationPress) Rap artist Drake is facing a trial that could extend for several weeks against Universal Music Group following the debut of Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning diss track. Court documents reveal that the 38-year-old Canadian rapper's legal team asserts that settlement discussions have not occurred.
The filing indicates that the case will be presented to a jury and is projected to last approximately three weeks in New York, according to reports from People magazine.
The dispute originated when Lamar, 37, released 'Not Like Us' in May 2024 amid an ongoing public feud between the two artists. Lamar's single labels Drake as a “certified pedophile” who deserves to be “placed on neighborhood watch”.
As reported by People, Kendrick Lamar also showcased the track during the 2025 Super Bowl halftime performance in February.
While Lamar omitted the term “pedophile” during his televised appearance, he grinned at the camera while delivering the line, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young”.
This year's Super Bowl attracted an audience of approximately 127.7 million viewers, marking it as the largest Super Bowl viewership in television history, according to Nielsen research.
In a previous court filing obtained by People, Drake's lawyers dismissed UMG's assertions that Lamar's lyrics were merely his opinion, arguing that “UMG completely overlooks the Complaint’s claims that millions globally interpreted the song as a factual declaration that Drake is a pedophile”.
“UMG shamelessly continued to distribute and promote the song even after Drake’s home was attacked by a gunman, after his businesses were vandalized, after Drake notified UMG of the inaccuracies in the allegations (and the damage they were causing), and after UMG was aware that the public regarded the allegations as factual statements”, the filing stated.
On March 31, Drake unveiled a new music video for his single 'Nokia', prompting fans to speculate that the 'Hotline Bling' rapper was indirectly responding to the California native.
One fan noted the similarities between Drake’s black-and-white music video for 'Nokia' and the filter used in Lamar’s 'Not Like Us'.
“Drake is definitely trolling Kendrick for sure. The handshake, the owls, the bird's-eye view, the choreography,” another fan commented.
In the midst of the ongoing clash, UMG previously stated that Drake “lost a rap battle that he instigated” and “is now suing his own record label”.
