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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work 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 continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, 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 proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, 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 star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult 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 continuing our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.