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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud 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 noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener 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 pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

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