Court Dismisses Rapper Drake's Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Not Like Us

A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song Not Like Us.

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

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track his own release, Drake 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.

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose legal name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the legal filing.

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

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 public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the ruling, "and we await the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.