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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate 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 extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners 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, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.