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A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

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

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.