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A court official has dismissed Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike 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-discussed 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 infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

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.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue 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 vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

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

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting 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 reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.