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A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit against the music corporation concerning Kendrick Lamar’s track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that the rapper’s song lyrics, which claimed the artist and his crew of being "pedophiles", were "nonactionable opinion" and cannot be considered libelous.

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, claiming Universal Music Group, the music company representing both artists, of defamation by allowing the track to be published and promoted, saying it disseminated a "false and malicious narrative".

The artist’s spokesperson said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group said it was pleased with the outcome and was looking forward to resuming its work with the musician.

Context 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 rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's musical journey, having received five Grammys and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl half-time show in February.

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

"Both rappers’ series of diss tracks was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and online discourse," the court wrote.

"Although the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a serious one, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims hurled by each artist, would not incline the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys verifiable facts about plaintiff."

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

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to win the rap battle.

"Talk about him likin' young girls, that's a gift from me," the song suggested.

"Against this backdrop in which such lines as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be assessed," wrote the court.

"The parallel in the wording suggests strongly that this line is a direct callback to the artist’s own words in the earlier release."

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His lawyers alleged the label of initiating "a campaign to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "false factual allegation that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to extra-legal action in response".

Ruling against the plaintiff, the judge said fans would not expect "accurate factual reporting" from a diss track "replete with profanity, insults, violent implications, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, quoting a line in which the star "heavily" suggested that "his opponent is a spouse beater", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning the track in question, the court 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 anticipate the use of slurs, passionate language or exaggeration."

Reacting to the dismissal, a label representative said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We're pleased with the court's dismissal and are eager to continuing our partnership effectively promoting Drake's music and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has not yet comment on the case.