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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG 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 May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards 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 row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The similarity 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 legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

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

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