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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"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 evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference 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 lawsuit.

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.