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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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 subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice 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 assessed," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track 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 retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

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

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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