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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

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

In a 38-page order, the judge 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 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper 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 proposed.

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

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

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

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