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

A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice 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 song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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