A judge has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.
Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.
The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".
The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.
Not Like Us, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.
It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.
In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".
"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court wrote.
"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."
She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.
On the track his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice 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 lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.
"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."
Drake, whose legal name is Aubrey Drake Graham, did not name Lamar in the lawsuit.
His lawyers accused UMG of initiating "a campaign 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 public should turn to extra-legal action in response".
Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."
She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be biologically his."
Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."
Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."
"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.
A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court reviewing it".
Lamar has yet to comment on the case.
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
