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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur 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 evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team accused the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative continued.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.