A New York judge has dismissed rapper Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar’s explosive diss track Not Like Us, ruling that the song’s lyrics were expressions of opinion rather than statements of fact.
Judge Jeannette Vargas, in a 38-page ruling issued Thursday, determined that Lamar’s lyrics — including the line accusing Drake and his associates of being “certified paedophiles” — were “nonactionable opinion” and part of a broader artistic feud between the two artists.
“The accusation that the plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one,” Vargas wrote, “but in the context of a heated rap battle with incendiary language and offensive accusations from both participants, a reasonable listener would not take the lyrics as verifiable fact.”
Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, filed the lawsuit in January, accusing UMG of defamation for allowing and promoting the song, claiming it spread a “false and malicious narrative.” The Canadian rapper argued that the label profited from a track that falsely portrayed him as a criminal.
In her decision, Judge Vargas highlighted the context of the artists’ public feud, calling it “the most infamous rap battle in the genre’s history.” She noted that Drake himself had provoked Lamar with earlier lyrics in his Taylor Made Freestyle, which featured an AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur suggesting Lamar should “talk about him likin’ young girls.”
“The similarity in wording,” Vargas wrote, “strongly suggests that this line in Not Like Us was a direct callback to Drake’s own lyrics.”
The judge further noted that both rappers had traded equally serious insults, citing Drake’s references to Lamar as a “domestic abuser” and implying one of Lamar’s children was not biologically his. Such exchanges, she ruled, were part of a “war of words” and not statements meant to be taken literally.
UMG, which represents both artists, welcomed the ruling. “From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression,” a company spokesperson said. “We’re pleased with the court’s dismissal and look forward to continuing our work promoting Drake’s music.”
Drake’s spokesperson confirmed the artist intends to appeal the decision, stating: “We look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing this ruling.”
Lamar has not commented publicly on the outcome.
Not Like Us, released in May 2024, became the defining moment of the Drake–Lamar feud, topping global charts, earning five Grammy Awards, and dominating the rapper’s Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year.
The court’s ruling underscores the legal protection of creative expression — especially in a genre built on competition, exaggeration, and lyrical bravado. As Judge Vargas concluded, “Listeners do not expect accurate factual reporting from a diss track.”