A judge has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.
Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.
Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".
The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.
Context of the Rap Battle
The diss song, which was initially released 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 won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.
In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".
"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.
"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."
She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.
On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice 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 song suggested.
"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.
"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."
'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'
The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.
His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".
Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."
She highlighted 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 he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."
Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."
Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."
"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".
Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.
