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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

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

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "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 suggest that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

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

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.