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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys 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' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, 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 the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact 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 expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.