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

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "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 subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur 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 lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

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

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.