🔗 Share this article

A judge has rejected Drake's legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

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 become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" 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 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 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled 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 artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.