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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing 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 final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged 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 give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

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

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact 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 exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.