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A judge has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "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 substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff 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 reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.