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A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

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

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 track suggested.

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

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