🔗 Share this article

A judge has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, 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 "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 track proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, 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 are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.