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A judge has rejected Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

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

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

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

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied 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 biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.