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A judge has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

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

Context of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

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

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested 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."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

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

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

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