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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.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline 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 pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice 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 song proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

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