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A judge has thrown out Drake's legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals 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.

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

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

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