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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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 Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "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 extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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