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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, 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, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track suggested.

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although 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 anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

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