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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track 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 could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the artists "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 substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

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

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.