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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "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 substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur 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 similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.