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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys 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 track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur 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 suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"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'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning 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 similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.