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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric 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 Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

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

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

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