Showbiz

Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us risks Super Bowl censorship amid Drake’s defamation suit

Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us risks Super Bowl censorship amid Drake’s defamation suit

Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show performance of his hit Not Like Us could be censored by NFL or FOX officials amid ongoing litigation over the diss track from Drake, 38.

The 37-year-old artist’s diss track aimed at Drake has been a commercial and critical hit, reaching the top spot in its debut on the Billboard H๏τ 100 chart while racking up five Grammys Sunday.

Honors Lamar racked up Sunday at the 67th Grammys, held at the Crypto.com Arena in his native Los Angeles included Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video. 

Wednesday typically marks the day prior to Sunday’s game in which the designated artist announces their setlist, TMZ reported Tuesday.

The issue could be complicated due to a defamation lawsuit Drake has filed over the diss track against Universal Music Group, the outlet reported.

Dailymail.com has reached out to reps for Lamar, the NFL and FOX for comment on the story. 

Kendrick Lamar's upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show performance of his hit Not Like Us could be censored by NFL or FOX officials amid ongoing litigation over the diss track from Drake, 38. Pictured Sunday at the Grammys

Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming Super Bowl Halftime show performance of his hit Not Like Us could be censored by NFL or FOX officials amid ongoing litigation over the diss track from Drake, 38. Pictured Sunday at the Grammys

The issue could be complicated due to a defamation lawsuit Drake (pictured in 2023) has filed over the diss track against Universal Music Group

The issue could be complicated due to a defamation lawsuit Drake (pictured in 2023) has filed over the diss track against Universal Music Group 

The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical artist takes a number of pointed jabs at his Toronto-born rap rival in the hit track, calling Drake a ‘certified pedophile.’

Sources told the outlet that network and league executives liaise with their legal teams to review the materials that will be performed in the Halftime show and make sure they don’t risk problems with the FCC.

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Kendrick Lamar announces he’s headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show article image

Sources told the outlet that there was ‘Kendrick is doing the song,’ but it was a matter of how much of the controversial track could be edited out amid the widely-viewed broadcast.

Broadcasting some of the lyrics in the lauded diss track could position the network or league for a potential lawsuit from the performer, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, the outlet noted.

The outlet noted that two censors will be working during Sunday’s Super Bowl: an NFL rep who can censor content, and a Fox rep with the same capabilities.

The Compton, California native’s controversial lyrics were not censored during Sunday’s Grammys, with the hometown crowd in attendance singing along with the track as Lamar captured Record of the Year honors.

The Like That artist, along with SZA, is expected to take part in a Super Bowl week rehearsal ahead of the performance on Thursday, the outlet reported.

Drake last month sued Universal Music Group in New York City federal court claiming defamation, noting that UMG – the parent label for both artists – knowingly published false accusations about Sєxual misconduct against him.

Honors Lamar racked up Sunday at the 67th Grammys , held at the Crypto.com Arena in his native Los Angeles included Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video

Honors Lamar racked up Sunday at the 67th Grammys , held at the Crypto.com Arena in his native Los Angeles included Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video 

Drake last month sued Universal Music Group in New York City federal court claiming defamation, noting that UMG knowingly published false accusations about Sєxual misconduct against him. Pictured in LA in 2019

Drake last month sued Universal Music Group in New York City federal court claiming defamation, noting that UMG knowingly published false accusations about Sєxual misconduct against him. Pictured in LA in 2019

UMG is the parent label for both Drake and Lamar

UMG is the parent label for both Drake and Lamar

The Grammy-winning entertainer said in court filings that Lamar encouraged fans to mete out punishment against him, resulting in a pair of break-in attempts at his Toronto mansion, and one of his security guards getting sH๏τ.

Drake said that Lamar’s diss track also impacted his commercial reputation for the worse, and spurred on a campaign of online hate against him.

‘The lawsuit is not about the artist who created Not Like Us,’ Drake’s lawyers said in January 15 court filings. ‘It is, instead, entirely about UMG, the music company that decided to publish, promote, exploit, and monetize allegations that it understood were not only false, but dangerous. 

‘UMG did so because it understood that the Recording’s inflammatory and shocking allegations were a gold mine.’

The lawsuit made specific mention of Lamar’s slated performance at the Super Bowl, noting that UMG helped secure Lamar the coveted spot.

UMG said in a statement in response to the suit, ‘Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist – let alone Drake – is illogical. 

‘We have invested mᴀssively in his music and our employees around the world have worked tirelessly for many years to help him achieve historic commercial and personal financial success.’

The company added, ‘Throughout his career, Drake has intentionally and successfully used UMG to distribute his music and poetry to engage in conventionally outrageous back-and-forth “rap battles” to express his feelings about other artists. He now seeks to weaponize the legal process to silence an artist´s creative expression and to seek damages from UMG for distributing that artist’s music.’

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