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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to challenge the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "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 substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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 audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.