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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

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

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, 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, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song suggested.

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

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback 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 sue his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

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

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.