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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 Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, 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 biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

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

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

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

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.