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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly 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 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured 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 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 evaluated," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign 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 audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.