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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release 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".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.