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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

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.

"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," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference 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 lawsuit.

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

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

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists 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 spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

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