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A judge has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud 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 court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," 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'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.