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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys 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".

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

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

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

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.