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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

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

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won 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 row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

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

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons 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 open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

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

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.