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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

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

Drake's representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback 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 accused UMG of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, 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 biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims 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 anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.