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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court 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 both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

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

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track 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 parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps 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 assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.