Court Throws Out Drake's Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us

A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting the music corporation over Kendrick Lamar’s song the diss record.

Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the rapper’s lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in January, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the track to be published and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

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

Context of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having received multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court noted.

"Although the claim that Drake is a child predator is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' imparts 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 Not Like Us.

On the song 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 track proposed.

"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 similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this lyric is a clear reference to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a convicted predator, and to imply that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, quoting a lyric in which the star "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' 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 open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his artistic path," the representative added.

A representative for Drake said the rapper planned to contest the decision, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the case.