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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’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 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song 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 song proposed.

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.