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

A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "a campaign to create 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 response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.