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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

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

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

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.