Kendrick Lamar’s smash hit “Not Like Us” is at the center of an ugly legal battle filed by Drake. The lawsuit claims Universal Music Group defamed him by boosting the song, which accuses Drake of being a pedophile. However, legal experts say that shouldn’t stop Kendrick from performing it on the world’s biggest stage.
Under normal circumstances, a Super Bowl halftime performer would play their chart-topping banger. But with this case, it’s not clear-cut. The lawsuit doesn’t name Lamar as a defendant, and it’s unclear how much pressure he’ll face to avoid performing the song entirely.
Experts say that Drake’s lawsuit is likely to be dismissed due to lack of evidence. To prove defamation, Drake would need to show that Kendrick made provably false assertions about him. In the context of a rap battle, fans know that claims are exaggerated and not meant to be taken seriously.
Another challenge for Drake is that he’s a public figure. As such, he must meet a high burden of proof in court. UMG’s attorneys will likely point out that Drake has made harmful allegations against Kendrick earlier, making his case even more difficult.
While the lawsuit might eventually be dismissed, corporate legal departments are risk-averse and may pressure Kendrick to skip “Not Like Us” due to the potential for expensive litigation. This could lead to changes in the song’s lyrics or the performance itself.
In reality, it’s unlikely that Kendrick will avoid performing the song entirely. He’ll probably play the instrumental hook and some of the lyrics, while skipping the parts directly related to Drake’s lawsuit. The most likely outcome is a compromise where Kendrick plays the song but modifies the content to avoid controversy.
Source: https://www.billboard.com/pro/can-kendrick-lamar-play-not-like-us-super-bowl-drake-lawsuit