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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

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

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children 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 public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.