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

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

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

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator 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' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

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

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.