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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle 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-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge 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 insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

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

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.