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A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he intended to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice 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.

"Against this backdrop 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 line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.