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

Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards 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 history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric 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 alleged UMG 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 retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons 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 public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.