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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

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

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, 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 detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... 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."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

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