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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights 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 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice 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 song suggested.

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

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

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

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

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

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

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.