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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured 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.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.