Judge Throws Out Rapper Drake's Lawsuit Regarding Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us

A court official has rejected Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Background 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 emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

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

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.