🔗 Share this article

A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

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

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks 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 pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the song his own release, 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 song proposed.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... 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 dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.