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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

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

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although 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 epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

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

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.