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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative 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 resuming our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

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