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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, 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 label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

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

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.