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A judge has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing 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 legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

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

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, 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 judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.