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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

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

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake 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 proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

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

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

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

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.