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A judge has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference 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 Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" 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 line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.