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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

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

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" 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, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased 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 representative for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.