Just when fans thought the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar had cooled down, it’s back in the headlines — this time, in the courtroom.
According to reports, Drake and his legal team have officially filed an appeal against UMG (Universal Music Group), challenging the judge’s previous decision to dismiss his defamation lawsuit regarding Kendrick Lamar’s explosive diss track “Not Like Us.”
In the new filing, Drake’s team stated their intent to appeal, though they haven’t yet revealed their detailed arguments. Those will come later, once both sides submit their official briefs to the appeals court.
The rapper’s legal team is reportedly seeking to overturn the court’s earlier ruling, which concluded that Kendrick’s lyrics were not defamatory, but rather “hyperbolic expressions within the context of rap competition.” The judge had emphasized that artistic expression — especially in rap battles — often involves exaggeration, satire, and metaphor.
However, Drake’s side argues that the damage was already done. “Not Like Us” became a cultural phenomenon, dominating charts and reshaping public opinion in a way that, according to some, hurt Drake’s image and career reputation.
Legal experts say overturning a ruling like this will be difficult, as courts traditionally grant broad creative freedom to artists — especially when lyrics are framed as performance art, not literal accusations.
Still, the appeal has reignited one of hip-hop’s biggest rivalries. Whether Drake wins the case or not, “Not Like Us” has already become one of the most iconic diss records in modern rap history — and the fallout continues to echo far beyond the music.