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

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle 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 early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

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

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, 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 synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

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