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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

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

"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 assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback 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 his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.