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

Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which accused Drake and his crew of being "certified paedophiles", were "protected opinion" and could not be considered defamatory.

Drake submitted the legal action in January, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company behind the two rappers, of defamation by permitting the track to be published and marketed, saying it spread a "false and malicious narrative".

Drake's representative said he planned to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Context of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in May 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-discussed highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

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

"While the claim that Drake is a pedophile is undoubtedly a serious one, the wider backdrop of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by both participants, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts truthful statements about the claimant."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "challenged his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song his own release, the rapper used the AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

The musician, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, did not name his rival in the lawsuit.

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

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that the rapper himself had engaged in comparable rhetoric, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where he "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's children may not be biologically his."

Regarding the track in question, Judge Vargas said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, heated labour dispute, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of slurs, fiery rhetoric or hyperbole."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership successfully promoting the artist’s work and investing in his artistic path," the spokesperson added.

A spokesperson for Drake said the rapper intended to contest the ruling, "and we await the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to issue a statement on the legal matter.