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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar'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 row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, the artist had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song proposed.

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey 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 Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the artist planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.