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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

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

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

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

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track 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 parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.