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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate 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 public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.