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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements 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 the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper 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.

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused the label of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court 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 anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.