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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although 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 offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"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 the musician said the artist intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.