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A judge has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released 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 career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song 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 parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

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

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", 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: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

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