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A judge has thrown out 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 song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, 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, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice 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 lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.