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A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

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

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.