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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 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 multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

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

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

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

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.