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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" 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 star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "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 statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson 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 are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.