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

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim 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 hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song 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 song proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative continued.

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

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.