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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

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

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song proposed.

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

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback 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 Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.