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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about 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 infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation 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 lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"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'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

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 are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.