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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.