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A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments 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".

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

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the track 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.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track 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 retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

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