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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.