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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar 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 give Lamar advice 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 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "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 public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.