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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused 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 audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.