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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "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 wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies 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 lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.