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A judge has thrown out Drake's legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.