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A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

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

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be released and promoted, 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 result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, 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 his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, the rapper used the synthetic vocals 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 song proposed.

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

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

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the case.