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A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, accusing UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative stated he planned to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome 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 rival rappers.

It has become the most successful track of the rapper’s musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed moments of his Super Bowl half-time show in early 2025.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

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

"While the claim that plaintiff is a child predator is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about the claimant."

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

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener 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 affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We're pleased with the judge’s ruling and are eager to resuming our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet comment on the legal matter.