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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song 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 song proposed.

"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 similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.