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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud 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-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur 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 suggested.

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey 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 track 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".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.