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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle 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 highlights 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 notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

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

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

"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 parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused 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 retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

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

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.