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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

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