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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments 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 history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper 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 proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "an effort 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 public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.