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

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.