🔗 Share this article

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

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice 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 lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even 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 listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

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

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the case.