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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar'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 detailed ruling, the judge 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 focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice 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 exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.