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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud 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 claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper 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.

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.