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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as 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 performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.