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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

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

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track 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 Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.