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A court official has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards 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 dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

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

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

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

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

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song suggested.

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

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line 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 Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although 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 audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.