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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, 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, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

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

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements 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 track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "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 imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.