U.S. District Judge Jeannette N. Vargas heard oral arguments on 30 June in Drake’s defamation and harassment lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s hit diss track “Not Like Us.” Drake—legal name Aubrey Graham—contends the lyrics falsely portray him and have harmed his reputation and streaming revenue, including alleged manipulation by automated “stream bots.” UMG urged the Southern District of New York court to dismiss the case, arguing the song’s barbed lyrics amount to protected artistic expression and “trash-talk” typical of rap battles. Drake’s counsel, Michael Gottlieb of Willkie Farr, countered that the track makes verifiable claims presented as fact and therefore falls outside First Amendment protections. The judge previously denied UMG’s bid to pause discovery and approved a case-management plan that anticipates a three-week trial and depositions running until February 2026. Vargas did not indicate when she would rule on the dismissal motion, leaving the high-profile dispute between two of music’s biggest names unresolved for now.