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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared 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 prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.