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

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile 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 reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared 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 track suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.