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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 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 moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper 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.

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

"The similarity 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 Drake Graham, did not sue his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

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

She pointed out 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 Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label 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 court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.