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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

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

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals 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 track proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although 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 anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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