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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, 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 Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

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

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.