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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released 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 the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

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

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult 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 look forward to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.