Judge Throws Out Rapper Drake's Legal Case Over Kendrick Lamar’s Hit Not Like Us

A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he planned to challenge the decision. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was eager to resuming its collaboration with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court noted.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that featured in the diss record.

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

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

"The parallel in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort 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 audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Ruling against Drake, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Although apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists 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 resuming our work successfully marketing Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it".

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