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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track suggested.

"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 suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

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

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims 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 subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.