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

A court official has thrown out Drake's legal claim against Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge the court’s judge ruled that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed the artist and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake submitted the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing both artists, of defamatory conduct by allowing the song to be released and promoted, stating it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he planned to challenge the decision. UMG said it was pleased with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the musician.

Background of the Hip-Hop Feud

The diss song, which was initially released in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the final strike in an continuing feud between the competing artists.

It has become the most successful track of Lamar's musical journey, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about moments of his Super Bowl performance in February.

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

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the claim that Drake is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She additionally observed that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in the diss record.

On the track his own release, Drake used the AI-generated voice of the late rapper to suggest strategies on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The similarity in the phrasing strongly indicates that this line is a clear reference to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team alleged the label of initiating "an effort to create a viral hit" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the audience should turn to extra-legal action in response".

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

She pointed out that the rapper himself had used comparable rhetoric, referencing a lyric in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding the track in question, the court said: "Although seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, heated labour dispute, or similar situations in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the rejection, a UMG spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult to all artists and their creative expression and should not have been filed."

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

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper planned to appeal the decision, "and we await the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.