Court Dismisses Rapper Drake's Lawsuit Regarding Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us

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

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative stated he intended to appeal the decision. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 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 musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the row between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

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

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile 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 incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" suggested that "his opponent 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."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

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