Court Throws Out Drake's Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Diss Track

A judge has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "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 substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

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

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated the court.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not sue his rival in the lawsuit.

His legal team accused the label of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists 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 career," the representative continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

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