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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult 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 work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.