Universal Music Group (UMG) has launched a strong legal response to Drake’s lawsuit seeking its dismissal by arguing that the rapper is only taking legal action because he “lost a rap battle” and is now attempting to recover from the public fallout.

The motion, filed earlier today, criticizes Drake for suing his own record label over the promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us.” UMG contends that Drake willingly engaged in the feud, provoked the battle, and released multiple diss tracks of his own.

Drake “lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated,” UMG stated in a court filing Monday.”Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds.”

UMG’s argument highlights Drake’s past stance against the legal system using rap lyrics as factual evidence. The motion references a public petition Drake signed less than three years ago, condemning prosecutors for treating artistic expression as literal truth. “Drake was right then and is wrong now,” the filing states asserting that his claims against UMG are simply an effort to recover from an unsuccessful rap battle with Lamar.

The label further argues that “Not Like Us” consists of rhetorical hyperbole rather than factual claims and does not meet the legal threshold for defamation. They also reject Drake’s allegations of second-degree harassment and violations under New York General Business Law, stating that his lawsuit lacks legal substance.

In a separate motion in January, UMG sought to dismiss Drake’s pre-suit deposition in Texas, citing a lack of evidence in his claims that the label artificially boosted “Not Like Us” to maximize its impact. The ongoing legal battle continues to draw attention as both sides defend their positions.