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A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having received 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 notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

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

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference 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 his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.