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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won 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 row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.