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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

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

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated 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 real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

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

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.