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

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, 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 intended to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys 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 dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song suggested.

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

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

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.