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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group 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 defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "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 subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track proposed.

"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 wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, 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" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.