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

A judge has rejected Drake's legal claim targeting Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his associates of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s representative stated he intended to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the result and was looking forward to continuing its collaboration with the rapper.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

Not Like Us, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the dispute between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"The artists' series of diss tracks was a 'verbal conflict' that was the focus of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"While the accusation that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with incendiary language and offensive accusations exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared Lamar to make the pedophile claims" that featured in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper 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 lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"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'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "a campaign to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a convicted predator, and to imply that the public should resort to vigilante justice in response".

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

She pointed out that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of subjective views... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to resuming our partnership successfully promoting Drake's music and supporting his career," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court reviewing it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.