Drake complains about Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Super Bowl performance in new defamation claims

Hip-hop superstar Drake is now complaining astir rival rapper Kendrick Lamar’s capacity of “Not Like Us” astatine this year’s Super Bowl, adding it to his defamation suit against Universal Music Group complete nan diss way and its allegations of pedophilia against Drake.

“The Recording was performed during nan 2025 Super Bowl and broadcast to nan largest assemblage for a Super Bowl halftime show ever, complete 133 cardinal people, including millions of children, and millions much who had ne'er earlier heard nan opus aliases immoderate of nan songs that preceded it,” says nan amended suit revenge Wednesday successful national tribunal successful Manhattan.

It adds, “It was nan first, and will hopefully beryllium nan last, Super Bowl halftime show orchestrated to assassinate nan characteristic of different artist.”

Although Lamar removed nan connection “pedophile” that’s successful nan way during nan halftime show, nan truth that it was omitted showed that “nearly everyone understands that it is defamatory,” nan suit says. It besides alleges Universal Music used financial benefits and leveraged business relationships to unafraid nan headliner spot for Lamar astatine nan Super Bowl, and promoted nan performance.

“Drake’s amended title makes an already beardown lawsuit stronger,” his lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, said successful a statement. “Drake will expose nan grounds of UMG’s misconduct, and UMG will beryllium held accountable for nan consequences of its ill-conceived decisions.”

This year’s Super Bowl and its halftime show were nan most-watched ever, according to Nielsen.

In a connection responding to nan tribunal filing, Universal Music, nan genitor grounds explanation of some artists, continued to contradict Drake’s allegations.

“Drake, unquestionably 1 of nan world’s astir accomplished artists and pinch whom we’ve enjoyed a 16-year successful relationship, is being misled by his ineligible representatives into taking 1 absurd ineligible measurement aft another,” nan institution said. “It is shameful that these foolish and frivolous ineligible theatrics continue.”

The amended suit besides adds that defamatory portions of “Not Like Us” were played astatine nan Grammy Awards successful February, erstwhile nan azygous won 5 awards, including opus and grounds of nan year. The suit claims that Universal Music besides helped unafraid nan Grammy nominations and allowed nan opus to beryllium played astatine nan ceremony.

Drake sued Universal Music, but not Lamar, for undisclosed damages successful January, saying nan institution published and promoted “Not Like Us” contempt its false pedophilia allegations and suggestions that listeners should edifice to vigilante justice.

The result, nan suit says, was intruders shooting a information guard astatine Drake’s Toronto location and 2 attempted break-ins there, online dislike and harassment, a deed to his estimation and a alteration successful his brand’s worth earlier his statement renegotiation pinch UMG this year. The amended suit besides adds much online comments indicating group judge nan pedophilia allegations.

Drake, a 38-year-old Canadian rapper and vocalist and five-time Grammy winner, and Lamar, a 37-year-old Pulitzer Prize victor pinch 22 Grammy wins, have been beefing for years. The feud is among nan biggest successful hip-hop successful caller years.

The 2 were occasional collaborators much than a decade ago, but Lamar began taking nationalist jabs astatine Drake starting successful 2013. The conflict escalated steeply past year, arsenic some launched diss tracks astatine each other, including Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

“Say, Drake, I perceive you for illustration ’em young / You amended not ever spell to compartment artifact one,” Lamar raps.

In its mobility to disregard nan lawsuit, Universal Music says Drake helped substance nan beef pinch his ain inflammatory diss tracks aimed astatine Lamar.

“Plaintiff, 1 of nan astir successful signaling artists of each time, mislaid a rap conflict that he provoked and successful which he willingly participated,” nan mobility says. “Instead of accepting nan nonaccomplishment for illustration nan unbothered rap creator he often claims to be, he has sued his ain grounds explanation successful a misguided effort to salve his wounds.”