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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused the label of launching "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 resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

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