Judge Dismisses Rapper Drake's Legal Case Regarding Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track

A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle 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 online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals 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 song proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The similarity 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 legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

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

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, 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 judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative continued.

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

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.