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A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud 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 online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice 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 proposed.

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged the label of launching "an effort 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 public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront 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 are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.