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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 the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

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

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.