Judge Dismisses Drake's Legal Case Regarding Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Diss Track

A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

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

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience 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 affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.