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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

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

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

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 similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

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

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.