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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

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

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative 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 supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.