A judge has dismissed Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.
Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.
Drake filed the legal action in January, claiming UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".
The artist’s representative stated he planned to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.
Context of the Rap Battle
The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.
It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.
In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the rappers "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 subject of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.
"While the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, 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' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."
She additionally observed that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.
On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.
"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track proposed.
"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.
"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."
'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'
The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.
His legal team alleged the label of launching "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".
Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."
She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s sons may not be biologically his."
Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."
Responding to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."
"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the representative continued.
A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".
Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.
