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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist 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 UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won 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 infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

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

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper 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.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

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

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.