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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

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

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.