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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released 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-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas 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 focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

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

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case 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 look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.