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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

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

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.