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A judge has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the record label behind the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be released and marketed, stating it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to appeal the ruling. UMG said it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

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

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

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

"The artists' seven-track rap battle was a 'verbal conflict' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the judge noted.

"Although the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an previous track, Drake had "dared his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals 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 proposed.

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

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the earlier release."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to suggest that the audience should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, insults, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a spouse beater", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, the court said: "Although apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their artistic freedom and should not have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.