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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper 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 song suggested.

"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 lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track 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 response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult 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 look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.