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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

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 performance in February.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies 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 evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children 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 open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

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

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