Court Dismisses Rapper Drake's Lawsuit Regarding Kendrick Lamar's Not Like Us

A judge has dismissed the rapper Drake’s legal claim against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s song Not Like Us.

Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and could not be considered libelous.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, claiming UMG, the music company representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the track to be published and promoted, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

Drake's spokesperson stated he intended to challenge the decision. UMG expressed it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its collaboration with the musician.

Context of the Rap Battle

Not Like Us, which was initially released in spring 2024, was widely seen as the final strike in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has emerged as the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in February.

In a 38-page order, the judge called the dispute between the artists "the most notorious hip-hop feud in the history of rap music".

"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 accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' imparts verifiable facts about plaintiff."

She also noted that, in an earlier song, Drake had "dared his rival to make the pedophile claims" that appeared in Not Like Us.

On the song Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of Tupac Shakur to suggest strategies 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 lines as 'Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young' must be assessed," stated the court.

"The similarity in the wording strongly indicates that this lyric is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of launching "a campaign to generate a popular song" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that the artist is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in retaliation".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said listeners would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with vulgar language, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She highlighted that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a lyric in which the artist "strongly" implied that "his opponent is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "claims that he 'heard' that one of Lamar's sons may not be his biological offspring."

Regarding Lamar's song, the court said: "Even seemingly factual claims may assume the character of statements of opinion... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or similar situations in which an audience may expect the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this case was an insult 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 work effectively marketing Drake's music and investing in his career," the spokesperson continued.

A representative for Drake said the artist intended to contest the ruling, "and we look forward to the appellate court examining it".

Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the case.