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

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

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"Both rappers’ 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 claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

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