Judge Dismisses Rapper Drake's Legal Case Over Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us

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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

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

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "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 judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song 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 parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team accused the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

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

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.