Judge Throws Out Drake's Legal Case Over Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Diss Track

A judge has thrown out Drake's legal claim against 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 crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning 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, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.