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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, 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 track proposed.

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.