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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's 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, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 track proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity 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 his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.