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A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards 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 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 subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

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

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas 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 slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.