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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps 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 public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

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

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

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