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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 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 five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row 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 substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, 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.

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

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character 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 hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

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