🔗 Share this article

A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that Lamar's song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His legal team alleged the label of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront 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 successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

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

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.