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A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies 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 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated 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'

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

His legal team accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.