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

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

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

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