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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, 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 track proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.