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

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

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle 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 digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake 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 suggested.

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

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning 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 slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.