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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit 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 February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

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

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