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A court official has dismissed Drake's legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

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

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.