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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team alleged 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 response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

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 been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative continued.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.