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A court official has rejected the rapper Drake’s legal claim targeting the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar's song the diss record.

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

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing UMG, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be published and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's representative said he intended to challenge the ruling. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the result and was eager to continuing its collaboration with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in May 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the most successful track of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the row between the rappers "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the genre's history".

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

"While the accusation that Drake is a child predator is undoubtedly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the average audience to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake 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.

"Against this backdrop in which such lyrics as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be evaluated," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His legal team alleged UMG of launching "an effort to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should resort to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or hyperbole."

Responding to the dismissal, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this case was an insult to every creative and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and look forward to resuming our work successfully marketing the artist’s work and supporting his career," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to appeal the decision, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the legal matter.