Judge Throws Out Rapper Drake's Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us

A judge has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus 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 provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims 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, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.