Court Dismisses Drake's Legal Case Over Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track

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

Judge the court’s judge decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

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' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake 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 song suggested.

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

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public 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 "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit 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 effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.