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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.