Universal Music Group (UMG) has filed a motion to dismiss Drake's defamation lawsuit over Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" track and its associated marketing campaign.

UMG argues that Drake's lawsuit is merely "a misguided attempt to salve his wounds" after losing a rap battle he initiated with Kendrick Lamar. The label contends that the dispute stems from typical hip-hop battle dynamics rather than actual defamation.

Key points from UMG's dismissal motion:

• The diss tracks exchanged between Drake and Lamar represent standard rap battle conduct
• Drake himself made inflammatory claims about Lamar in previous tracks
• "Not Like Us" contains protected First Amendment speech as "nonactionable opinion and rhetorical hyperbole"
• The controversial image of Drake's Toronto mansion with sex offender markers is clearly hyperbolic and not meant to be taken as fact
• UMG denies any intention to incite violence against Drake

Drake's original lawsuit claims "Not Like Us" falsely portrays him as a pedophile, causing real-life consequences. The case's outcome will likely hinge on whether the court views the content as protected artistic expression or genuine defamation.

The situation is further complicated by Drake's recent settlement with iHeartMedia over separate "Not Like Us" payola allegations, while discovery proceedings in the UMG case continue to move forward.

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