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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener 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 appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake 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 proposed.

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.