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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed 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 received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

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

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur 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.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.