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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row 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 digital debate," the court noted.

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

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

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

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character 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, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.