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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

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

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

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

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"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," stated the court.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

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

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