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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 song proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity 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 Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

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

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.