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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

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

Drake submitted the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track 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 early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake 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 track suggested.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.