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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

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

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact 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 slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit 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 partnership effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.