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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue his rival 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 criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

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

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.