Rap, Reputation & the Law: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar #302

02/19/25 • 19 min

The hip-hop world has been on fire with the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, but this battle has now spilled out of the recording booth and into the courtroom. While rap beefs typically play out through diss tracks, Drake has taken an unprecedented step by filing a federal defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG).

In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, Pete Salsich unpacks the legal drama behind Drake’s lawsuit, breaking down what defamation really means, how the law treats public figures differently, and the potential impact this case could have on the music industry.

Capes Sokol, Attorneys at Law
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Original Theme Song composed by Brent Johnson of Coolfire Studios.
Podcast sponsored by Capes Sokol.
Learn more about THE SCREEN LAWYERTM TheScreenLawyer.com.
Follow THE SCREEN LAWYERTM on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheScreenLawyer
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheScreenLawyer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheScreenLawyer
Instagram: https://instagram.com/TheScreenLawyer
The Screen Lawyer’s hair by Shelby Rippy, Idle Hands Grooming Company.

Capes Sokol, Attorneys at Law
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Previous Episode

Season 3 Kickoff: Lights, Camera, Legal Action! #301

In this episode of The Screen Lawyer Podcast, host Pete Salsich kicks off 2025 with a look at the bustling film scene in Saint Louis and the Midwest. He highlights the impact of the Missouri Motion Media Tax Credit, which has energized local film production, and previews exciting developments for the year ahead.

Pete discusses upcoming cases involving AI, copyright, and TikTok, and teases a stellar lineup of guests slated for the spring. From legal trends to creative opportunities, this episode sets the stage for a dynamic year in media law and filmmaking in St. Louis.”

The Screen Lawyer Podcast - Rap, Reputation & the Law: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar #302

Transcript

00:00:00.066

Hey, did you watch the Super Bowl? I did, at least for a while. The game was so bad. If you're not an Eagles fan. But I stuck around long enough, like hopefully you did to see the halftime show with Kendrick Lamar. And in that show, while there was all kinds of interesting cultural references and there's opinions all over the place. One thing for The Screen Lawyer that stuck out, there's a defamation case about this song, and it's pretty interesting. Stick around.