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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track suggested.

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists 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 successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

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

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.