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A court official has thrown out Drake's defamation lawsuit targeting Universal Music Group concerning Kendrick Lamar's track the diss record.

Presiding Judge Jeannette Vargas decided that Lamar's song lyrics, which claimed Drake and his associates of being "pedophiles", were "protected opinion" and cannot be deemed defamatory.

The Canadian rapper submitted the legal action in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the record label representing the two rappers, of defamatory conduct by permitting the song to be released and marketed, stating it spread a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he planned to challenge the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was pleased with the result and was eager to resuming its work with the musician.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was broadly viewed as the decisive blow in an ongoing battle between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of the rapper’s career, having won multiple Grammy awards and being one of the most-talked about highlights of his Super Bowl performance in early 2025.

In a detailed ruling, Judge Vargas called the row between the rappers "the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the subject of extensive press coverage and digital debate," the judge wrote.

"While the accusation that plaintiff is a pedophile is certainly a grave allegation, the broader context of a heated rap battle, with provocative remarks and offensive accusations hurled by both participants, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'the track' conveys truthful statements about plaintiff."

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

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

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

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

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

'A Slap in the Face to Creatives'

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

His legal team accused UMG of launching "an effort to create a popular song" out of a release that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a convicted predator, and to suggest that the audience should resort to extra-legal action in retaliation".

Deciding against the plaintiff, Judge Vargas said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a diss track "filled with vulgar language, trash-talking, violent implications, and figurative and hyperbolic language."

She highlighted that Drake himself had engaged in similar language, referencing a line in which the artist "heavily" implied that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and another where Drake "raps that he 'was told' that one of Lamar's sons may not be biologically his."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may take on the nature of statements of opinion... when made in public debate, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an audience may anticipate the use of epithets, passionate language or exaggeration."

Responding to the dismissal, a label spokesperson said: "From the outset, this lawsuit was an affront to every creative and their creative expression and never should have been filed."

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

A spokesperson for the musician said the rapper intended to contest the decision, "and we look forward to the Court of Appeals examining it".

Lamar has yet to comment on the case.