Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ Lawsuit Appeal Set for December Oral Arguments
Drake’s appeal in his legal dispute with Universal Music Group over the release and promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is moving toward a key courtroom date.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has scheduled oral arguments for December 4, giving Drake’s legal team and attorneys for UMG an opportunity to present their positions directly before an appeals-court panel. The hearing is expected to be the final major stage before the court issues a decision on the appeal.
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What the appeal concerns
The case stems from Drake’s lawsuit against UMG, filed in early 2025. Drake alleged that the company’s handling of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” amounted to defamation, harassment, and deceptive business practices. The complaint focused on UMG’s release and promotion of the song during the highly publicized rap feud between Drake and Lamar.
A lower court dismissed the lawsuit in October 2025. In its ruling, the judge concluded that the lyrics at issue were nonactionable opinion, meaning they did not meet the legal standard for defamation.
Drake subsequently appealed that decision, keeping the dispute active despite the earlier dismissal.
December hearing could shape the next step
Both Drake’s attorneys and UMG’s legal team have already submitted written briefs during the appeals process. Oral arguments will allow the parties to address questions from the appellate judges and clarify the legal reasoning behind their competing positions.
Outside groups have also weighed in on UMG’s side. The Floyd Abrams Institute for Freedom of Expression at Yale and constitutional-law scholar Professor Lyrissa Lidsky filed a brief supporting the company. A separate group of social scientists and legal scholars also submitted arguments favoring UMG’s position.
Those filings point to the broader free-expression questions surrounding the case, particularly how courts distinguish between protected artistic speech, opinion, exaggeration, and potentially defamatory factual claims in music.
(Photo by Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
Why the ruling matters
The appeal is notable because it sits at the intersection of rap music, corporate promotion, and defamation law. Diss tracks frequently contain heightened language, insults, and accusations, but courts generally examine whether a reasonable listener would interpret disputed statements as verifiable facts rather than opinion or artistic expression.
For Drake, a successful appeal could revive claims that were dismissed at the trial-court level. For UMG, a ruling affirming the dismissal would reinforce the lower court’s conclusion that the disputed lyrics were protected opinion rather than legally actionable defamation.
No decision will be made at the December 4 hearing itself. Instead, the appellate panel will consider the oral presentations alongside the written submissions before issuing its ruling at a later date.
What happens next
Drake’s legal team and UMG lawyers are scheduled to argue before the Second Circuit on December 4.
The appeals judges may question both sides about the dismissal and the legal standard for defamation.
The court will then issue a written decision at a later, undetermined date.
Depending on the outcome, the case could remain dismissed, return to a lower court, or face further review efforts.
The hearing ensures that the legal aftermath of one of hip-hop’s most visible recent rivalries will continue into the final months of the year.