🔗 Share this article

A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

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

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

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

In a 38-page order, 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 subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

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

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront 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 work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

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

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