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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording 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'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.