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A judge has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

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

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake 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 both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.