A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.
Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.
The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".
The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.
Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.
It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments 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’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.
"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."
She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.
On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.
"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track suggested.
"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.
"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."
Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.
His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".
Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."
She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."
Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."
Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."
"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative continued.
A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".
Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.
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