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A judge has thrown out Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

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

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys 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 the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 suggested.

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign 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 audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court 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 anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, 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 judge’s ruling and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.