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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

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

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.