🔗 Share this article

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

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row 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 subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"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," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although 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 anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our work successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.