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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge 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

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.