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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track suggested.

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.