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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 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 Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric 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 legal team accused the label of initiating "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas 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 anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit 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 look forward to resuming our work effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.