Entertainment
Judge dismisses Drake’s lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar diss track “Not Like Us”
A federal judge in New York tossed out a defamation lawsuit that Drake brought against Universal Music Group, ruling that lyrics branding the superstar as a pedophile in Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss track “Not Like Us” were opinion.
Judge Jeannette A. Vargas on Thursday rejected the suit in a written opinion that began by citing “the vitriolic war of words” and saying the case arose “from perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history.”
Filed in January, the lawsuit alleged that UMG published and promoted “Not Like Us” even though it included false pedophilia allegations against Drake and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice.
The lawsuit also alleged that the track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand.
Lamar was not named in the lawsuit.
Universal Music Group, the parent record label for both artists, had denied the allegations.
“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” a UMG spokesperson told CBS News in a statement Thursday. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake’s music and investing in his career.”
A spokesperson for Drake told CBS News in a statement, “We intend to appeal today’s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.”
CBS News has also reached out to representatives for Lamar for comment.
UMG owns both Interscope, Lamar’s label, and Republic Records, where Drake has spent his entire career.
In February, Drake reached a settlement with iHeartMedia in a separate court complaint filed in Texas over “Not Like Us.”
In that complaint, Drake alleged that iHeartMedia had received illegal payments from UMG to boost radio airplay for “Not Like Us.” iHeartMedia and UMG denied the allegations.
And in November 2024, Drake also filed a similar complaint in New York against streaming giant Spotify and UMG, accusing them of conspiring to inflate streams of “Not Like Us.” Both companies have also denied those claims.
Lamar and Drake have been beefing for years, with the two rappers releasing several diss tracks about one another. The feud appeared to reach its height when Lamar called out Drake during his Super Bowl Halftime Show in February.
In “Not Like Us,” which was released in May 2024, Lamar makes disturbing accusations about Drake allegedly having inappropriate conduct with minors. He also makes similar allegations about Drake’s friends and continues to question Drake’s talent.
In his own responding diss track, Drake denied these allegations, as well as allegations about having a daughter.
Entertainment
Kim Kardashian losing North West to Kanye?
Kanye West, who has officially changed his name to Ye, and Kim Kardashian’s daughter North West’s latest moves suggest she’s gravitating more toward her father’s controversial style than her mother’s influence.
From eyebrow raising fashion choices to a public reunion with Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori, fans are wondering if the Kardashians star is slowly losing her first born to ex husband?
Such speculations gained traction after the 12-year-old dropped a snippet of her new collaboration song with her dad, titled Piercing on My Hand (Ye Version).
In the wee hours of Friday morning, January 16, she shared a video on her Instagram Stories, featuring herself, singing, “Piercing on my hand, the other holding bands. No friends, just filter, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Went to school for two days, then I got banned/ Skipping school, yeah, I do it on the daily,” she continues across a beat heavily influenced by the rage rap that frequently soundtracks her social media posts.
X (formerly Twitter) users picked up on the lyrics and began tagging Kim with messages of apology.
While some mocked her parenting with sarcasm, others genuinely sympathised with the mother, who tries to protect her child from following in her father’s controversial footsteps.
“Got some new rings, yeah, they’re so crazy,” North continues to rap. “All my friends are hits, you know I’m not lazy/ You’re so angry that I’m so mainstream.”
she sneers near the end of the snippet, adding, “I’m not sure I’m crazy/ I want more piercings and tats/ I love blue hair, put it in some plaits/ Put the music to the max/ I want like a hundred thousand racks.”
The pre-teen captioned the post, writing, “Piercing on my hand @ye version.”
Although North’s fans seemed to love her music influence and the teaser, the collaboration with her 24-time Grammy-winning dad is just another reason which proved she is more like her dad than her famous mother.
This preview follows a string of daring fashion statements from North in early 2026, including a temporary bridge piercing, black dental grills, and a diamond skull pendant, accessories more closely associated with her father’s unconventional style than her mother’s polished aesthetic.
While her fashion choices made waves, she grabbed further attention given to her growing comfort in sharing personal moments online.
On December 26, 2025, North posted a screenshot from a FaceTime call with Bianca Censori, her step mom and singer BabyXsosa.
The viral image, originally shared by BabyXsosa, marked one of the first times North publicly featured her stepmother on her own social media, signaling her increasingly visible bond with Kanye’s inner circle.
Together, the music, fashion, and social media activity suggest North is exploring her identity in ways that feel more aligned with her father’s influence, prompting thoughts like may be she is drifting away from her mother.
Entertainment
Roger Federer celebrates career with exhibition matches at Australian Open kick-off
The Australian Open’s first formal opening ceremony became the Roger Federer show on the eve of the season-opening major.
The band Crowded House played a hit-filled setlist to a capacity crowd in the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena. Laver himself, 87, sat courtside. Record-setting champion Novak Djokovic watched from the stands.
Federer, a six-time Australian Open winner and 20-time Grand Slam champion, partnered with past champions Andre Agassi and then Ash Barty in an exhibition doubles match against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt as the main feature of the program.
It went to script, with Federer winning the first point despite framing a forehand and then emphatically finishing off the victory with a leaping overhead winner.
Dita Alangkara / AP
Federer was back in Australia for the first time since 2021, making the trip now because he retired from competitive tennis before he could do a farewell season tour. He said, “It’s super important to be grateful” to earlier generations of stars.
“It really truly means so much to me when people like Rocket (Laver) show up,” Federer said.
This year, the Australian Open is a three-week festival of tennis. Over 217,000 fans have attended exhibitions and qualifying events in the past six days. The main draw singles competition will begin on Sunday. Djokovic will play his opening match on Monday. Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams is set to play, becoming the oldest woman ever to compete in the Australian Open’s main draw.
Australian Open organizers turned the 2026 event into a three-week festival of tennis, with 217,999 fans attending across six days to watch exhibitions, qualifying and the 1 Point Slam before the main draw started.
Entertainment
Kianna Underwood, ex-Nickelodeon child star dies in fatal hit-and-run: Details inside
A former Nickelodeon child star, Kianna Underwood, was killed in a hit-and-run in New York.
Underwood, who was 33, was hit by a vehicle early Friday morning, January 16, 2026, in Brooklyn, dragged under the car for two blocks, and pronounced dead at the scene.
She became famous in 2005 on the sketch show All That a program that also helped launch stars like Amanda Bynes and Kenan Thompson.
Authorities have not made any arrests as yet, as reported by Variety.
Alongside All That Underwood also featured her voice in an animated show, Little Bill, which was directed by Bill Cosby.
Kianna was reportedly hit by a sedan while she was crossing the street, as reported by TMZ.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has confirmed the details that Underwood, 33, was struck by a vehicle just before 7 am and was pronounced dead on the spot.
Who was Kianna Underwood?
The beloved child star, Kianna Underwood, was known for her role in Little Bill, which was inspired by the children’s book series directed by Bill Cosby.
This animated series follows the day-to-day life and thought process of a 5-year-old boy growing up in Philadelphia.
Underwood’s voiceover career also ventured beyond television, including her contributions to the 2001 animated TV movie Santa, Baby.
Kianna also made an on-screen appearance in the 1999 independent comedy The 24-Hour Woman, created by Nancy Savoca.
The film starred Rosie Perez, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, and Patti LuPone. In the following years of her career, Kianna also toured with the Broadway musical Hairspray in 2004.
Kianna’s death records another fatal pedestrian death in New York City, where hit-and-run incidents continue to surge, becoming a rising concern.
Just last year, there were 207 deaths reported due to vehicle crashes.
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