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

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won 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' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar 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 Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.