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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about 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".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line 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 sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

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

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.