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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"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.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice 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.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character 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, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.