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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

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

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 track proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists 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 effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

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