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A court official has thrown out the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge determined that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and marketed, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. UMG expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "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 digital debate," the judge wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not incline the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the paedophilia accusations" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

"Suggest he has a preference for minors, consider that a tip," the song proposed.

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

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line 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 name his rival in the legal filing.

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.