His team argued in the filing obtained by E! News that UMG's publication and promotion of the song "was intended to create the impression and states as an unambiguous matter of fact that Drake is a 'certified pedophile' and a 'predator.'"
"Drake's alleged pedophilia is the Recording's core message, as evidenced in not just its lyrics, but in the Recording's ubiquitous cover art, relentless marketing, and subsequently released, viral video," the brief argued. "Beyond the Recording's indictment of Drake as one in a group of 'certified pedophiles,' UMG published lyrics such as: 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young.'"
E! News has reached out to reps for Kendrick and UMG—which have not publicly addressed Drake's appeal—for comment and has not yet heard back.
The latest update comes more than two years after the Canadian rapper and J. Cole released their "First Person Shooter" collab that implied the trio were the best rappers in modern hip-hop.
The January 2025 lawsuit, viewed by E! News, accused the label of conspiring to "artificially inflate" the song's popularity through pay-to-play schemes, bots and more. The document also argued that the song "cloaks cleverly dangerous lyrics behind a catchy beat and inviting hook" that "falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile."
These claims were also echoed in his November pre-action petition—a procedure under New York State law before filing a lawsuit—obtained by E! News.
Drake's attorneys accused UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which is often used in cases involving organized crime. They also accused UMG of deceptive business practices and false advertising, along with giving "financial benefits" to "third parties to promote and play the Song and Video without disclosing those payments."
The petition claimed that UMG's "schemes" were motivated "at least in part, by the desire of executives at Interscope to maximize their own profits."
Drake's legal team claimed in the filing that they had contacted UMG to resolve the issue.
"UMG has demonstrated that it has no interest in taking responsibility for its misconduct," the filing alleged. "Over the past several months, Drake has repeatedly sought to engage UMG in discussions to resolve the ongoing harm he has suffered as a result of UMG's actions. UMG refused to engage in negotiations, and insisted that UMG is not responsible for its own actions."
UMG vehemently denied the claims. "The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue," a spokesperson said in a prior statement to E! News. "We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear."
E! had previously reached out to reps for Kendrick and reps for Drake for comment but did not hear back.
Ultimately, the case was dismissed, with the judge ruling that Drake had no grounds to sue UMG or Kendrick over the lyrics.
"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one," she wrote in the ruling, obtained by E!, "the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."
After Kendrick released "Like That" in March 2024, Cole, 41, then shared his solo track "7 Minute Drill" in April. Meanwhile, the OVO founder, 39, took more jabs at Kendrick, Future and more with "Push Up" and the now-deleted "Taylor Made Freestyle."
But the Compton-native rapper went all in with his May song "Not Like Us," in which he called Drake a "pedophile." Drake then released "The Heart Part 6," where he seemingly denied the claims, rapping, "Drake is not a name that you gonna see on no sex offenders list."
And while Drake isn't bowing out anytime soon, J. Cole wasn't interested in continuing the beef.
"When I listen to ['7 Minute Drill'], that s--t don't sit right with my spirit," he told fans while on stage at his Dreamville Festival in April 2024, before calling the song "the lamest s--t I ever did in my f--king life."
Now, keep reading to see more famous celebrity feuds.
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