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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released 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 the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas 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 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake 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 "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

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

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative continued.

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

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.