Judge Dismisses Drake's Lawsuit Regarding Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Not Like Us

A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the song to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed 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 five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

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

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

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

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