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A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

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

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track 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.

"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 parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.