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

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

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed 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 first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

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

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.