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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics 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 launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit 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 look forward to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.