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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, accusing 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 spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song 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 track suggested.

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

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.