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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song suggested.

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

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference 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 Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track 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".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.