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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle 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 judge wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly 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 reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.