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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, 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 row 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 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 exchanged by both participants, would not lead 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 his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel 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 his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims 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 hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.