AceShowbiz - Drake has been granted a court date to argue his appeal against the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit involving Universal Music Group (UMG) and Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us."

On September 21, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit set a hearing for December 4, where attorneys representing Drake and UMG will present their arguments before a three-judge panel. After this hearing, the appellate judges will decide whether the case will be allowed to proceed once again.

The original lawsuit was filed by Drake in federal court in January, accusing UMG of defamation. The claim centers on the distribution of Kendrick Lamar's track "Not Like Us," which allegedly refers to Drake as a pedophile. The suit was later amended to include claims of second-degree harassment and violation of consumer protection laws. Notably, Kendrick Lamar is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Last October, after hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the entire case. The judge ruled that the statements in the song were considered nonactionable opinion under the law, which led to the dismissal under Federal Rule 12(b)(6).

Despite the dismissal, Drake announced plans to appeal the ruling shortly afterward. His legal team officially filed the appeal in January, and since then, both parties have submitted briefing motions outlining their positions ahead of the upcoming hearing.

This appeal provides Drake the opportunity to challenge the dismissal and potentially have the case reinstated. The December hearing will be critical in determining whether Drake's claims against UMG will move forward in the judicial system.

The case highlights ongoing legal battles in the music industry where artists dispute defamatory content and its impact. While Drake faces a challenging legal path, the appeal process ensures his arguments will be reviewed by a higher court.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Xxlmag.