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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge 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 focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," 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."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.