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A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge 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 substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to win the rap battle.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the track suggested.

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

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

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of initiating "a campaign to generate 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 public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG representative said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper 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.