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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

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

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, 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' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice 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.

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.