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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em 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 real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

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

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.