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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "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 substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"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 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.