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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result 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 broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle 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-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake 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.

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line 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 his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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