Washington DC, Jan. 24 -- Canadian rapper Drake has filed an appeal after a federal judge dismissed his alleged defamation lawsuit last year, which was linked to Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us, PEOPLE reported.

According to PEOPLE, Drake had sued Universal Music Group (UMG) over the release and promotion of the track, claiming the lyrics harmed his reputation and safety.

The song, released in May 2024 during a public feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, included a line calling Drake a "certified pedophile" and stating that he should be "placed on neighborhood watch."

In October 2025, a judge in New York ruled that the lyrics were not defamatory. The court stated that the song was part of a "heated rap battle" and that a reasonable...