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A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "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 digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

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

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists 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 effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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