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

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly 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 real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.