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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle 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 certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience 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 paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

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.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

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

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, 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 court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.