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A court official has dismissed Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

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

"Although 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 exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.