🔗 Share this article

A court official has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

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

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "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 substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song proposed.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Regarding 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, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.