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A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, 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 detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context 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 strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

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

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.