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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric 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 legal team accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although 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 anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist planned to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.