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A judge has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

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

Drake's representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming 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 become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud 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 noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"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," stated the court.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

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

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.