🔗 Share this article

A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the rapper’s song lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered defamatory.

The Canadian rapper filed the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the rapper.

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 continuing feud between the competing artists.

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

In a detailed ruling, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and insulting claims exchanged by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, Drake had "challenged Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

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

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

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," stated Judge Vargas.

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "claims that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even seemingly factual claims may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or hyperbole."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the representative continued.

A representative for the musician 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 case.