You know hip-hop’s gone full soap opera when Drake ends up suing his own record label. 

Yep, you read that right—and now, the Drake lawsuit against Kendrick and Universal Music Group (UMG) has officially been tossed out. 

Wait, Drake Sued His Own Label?

Earlier this year, the Nokia singer filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group (the same people who release his albums, by the way) claiming they helped promote Kendrick Lamar’s mega-viral diss track “Not Like Us.”

According to Drake’s team, the song wasn’t just lyrical shade. It supposedly spread “false and defamatory” claims that hurt his reputation and even put him in danger. He blamed the track’s popularity for break-in attempts at his Toronto home and for an incident where his security guard got shot.

To make things worse, the single’s artwork showed a satellite image of his mansion with fake “sex offender” markers all over it. 

Drake said UMG knew it was misleading but pushed it anyway for views and engagement. And so, the lawsuit was born.

The Judge’s Verdict Didn’t Take Drake Seriously

A Federal Judge in charge of the case, Judge Jeannette A. Vargas officially dismissed the case and her reasoning was basically: nobody takes rap beef literally.

She ruled that Kendrick’s lyrics were opinions, not facts, and that the “heated rap battle” context made it obvious to any listener that the accusations weren’t meant to be believed.

But what about the fake sex-offender map? 

Well, the judge called it “obviously exaggerated and doctored.” In other words: no, no one thinks law enforcement labeled Drake’s home. 

So yeah, safe to say the court wasn’t buying what Drake was selling.

Drake’s Team Isn’t Done Yet

Right after the ruling dropped, Drake’s lawyers came out swinging with a promise to appeal. They’re still arguing that UMG crossed the line by promoting a track they say led to real-world harm.

That means this isn’t over and (knowing how hurt Drake was by this whole thing), we can expect another Drake lawsuit update soon. 

UMG’s Clapback Was Pure Corporate Shade

Meanwhile, Universal Music Group’s statement could’ve been a diss track of its own. They didn’t just celebrate their win, they took the petty route and dragged him a little in the process.

UMG’s lawyers said Drake should “accept the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be.” 

Oof.

They went on to call the lawsuit “an affront to all artists and their creative expression” and said it “never should have seen the light of day.” Still, they ended their statement by saying they “look forward to continuing to promote Drake’s music.” 

Translation: we’ll keep cutting the checks, but please chill with the lawsuits.

Drake vs. Kendrick: The Feud That Won’t Die

At this point, the Drake-Kendrick saga might just end up being one of the most interesting rap beefs in Hip-Hop culture. “Not Like Us” became one of the biggest cultural moments of 2025. It broke records, inspired TikTok dances and had fans declaring Kendrick the new king of the diss track.

Drake fired back with his own responses, but this time, most of the public sided with Kendrick. And now that the case has been dismissed, Kendrick’s “W” just got even bigger.

It’s wild, though, because Drake’s no stranger to feuds—from Meek Mill to Pusha T, he’s been through this before. Which is why a lot of fans found it ironic that he was the one saying the other guy went too far.

In hip-hop, everyone knows the difference between bars and reality. And if you’re going to step into the lyrical ring, you can’t call foul when the punches land harder than expected.

What’s Next for Drake?

Drake’s camp says they’re appealing, so technically, round two is coming. But public opinion might already be decided. The court threw out his case, UMG dropped their statement, and Kendrick’s fans are somewhere quoting “Not Like Us” like scripture.

Maybe Drake will drop another diss track. Maybe he’ll take UMG’s advice and “accept the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be.” Either way, this feud just became part of hip-hop history, and we’re all just here for the entertainment.