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A judge has dismissed Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

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

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped 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 the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys 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 dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

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

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song suggested.

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback 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 name his rival in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.