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A court official has dismissed Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' 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 AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.