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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he planned to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

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 emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.