Court Throws Out Drake's Lawsuit Regarding Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Diss Track

A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not sue Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team accused the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the artist planned to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

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