🔗 Share this article

A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed libelous.

The Canadian rapper filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle 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 detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the track proposed.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated the court.

"The parallel in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name Lamar in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used similar language, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.