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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur 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 assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release 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 fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake 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 Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting 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 been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.