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

A court official has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be released and promoted, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson stated he planned to appeal the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

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

It has emerged as the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud 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 judge noted.

"While the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'Not Like Us' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, the artist had "dared Lamar 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 prevail in the feud.

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

"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 parallel in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

His lawyers alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a viral hit" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the star "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Reacting to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and are eager to continuing our work effectively promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the representative added.

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

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.