Libel

Eugene Volokh | 10.9.2025 4:30 PM

A short excerpt from Judge Jeannete Vargas's long opinion in Graham v. UMG Recordings, Inc.; read the full opinion for more:

This case arises from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history, the vitriolic war of words that erupted between superstar recording artists Aubrey Drake Graham ("Drake") and Kendrick Lamar Duckworth ("Lamar" or "Kendrick Lamar") in the spring of 2024. Over the course of 16 days, the two artists released eight so-called "diss tracks," with increasingly heated rhetoric, loaded accusations, and violent imagery. The penultimate song of this feud, "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar, dealt the metaphorical killing blow. The song contains lyrics explicitly accusing Drake of being a pedophile, set to a catchy beat and propulsive bassline. "Not Like Us" went on to become a cultural sensation, achieving immense commercial success and critical acclaim.

Here are the relevant lyrics quoted from "Not Like Us," though there were more songs quoted from the rap battle:

Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young
You better not ever go to cell block one

To any b**** that talk to him and they in love
Just make sure you hide your lil' sister from him
They tell me Chubbs the only one that get your hand-me-downs
And........

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