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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper 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 proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression 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 promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.