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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, claiming UMG, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and marketed, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

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

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was initially released 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 musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A representative for the musician said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.