Drake's lawyers say "millions of people" believe paedophile claim in Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us'

Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' led "millions of people" to believe he is a paedophile, Drake's lawyers wrote in a motion to the court in his defamation case against Universal Music Group.

The motion, filed on Thursday, comes in response to UMG's argument that "hyperbolic and metaphorical language" are common in diss tracks and that the lyrics are protected under the US' First Amendment.

"UMG completely ignores the complaint's allegations that millions of people, all over the world, did understand the defamatory material as a factual assertion that Plaintiff is a paedophile," his lawyers wrote.

UMG previously argued that Drake took legal action only after he "lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated" and said the suit "is utterly without merit and should be dismissed with prejudice."

Mike Gottleib, the rapper's lead attorney, has said the record label's attempt to dismiss the case is "a desperate ploy to avoid accountability."

The label also requested a halt to discovery, claiming Drake sought "highly commercially sensitive documents," such as Lamar's contract and compensation incentives.

Drake's lawyers claimed UMG did not provide "any indicator that might demonstrate why discovery will be overly burdensome" in response to this motion.

Drake began legal action against Universal Music Group in November, with a pre-action petition alleging the two companies conspired to artificially inflate 'Not Like Us' and contributed to defamation against him.

UMG has strenuously denied these allegations.