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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said 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 final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

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

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing 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 planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.