Judge Dismisses Rapper Drake's Legal Case Over Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Diss Track

A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

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

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice 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 '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 Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.