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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

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

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

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