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

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

Drake filed the lawsuit in early this year, accusing Universal Music Group, the music company behind both artists, of defamation by permitting the song to be released and promoted, saying it disseminated a "untrue and harmful story".

The artist’s representative said he intended to appeal the decision. Universal Music Group expressed it was satisfied with the outcome and was eager to continuing its work with the rapper.

Background of the Rap Battle

The diss song, which was first dropped in spring 2024, was widely seen as the decisive blow in an continuing feud between the rival rappers.

It has become the biggest hit of Lamar's career, having received multiple Grammy awards 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 infamous rap battle in the history of rap music".

"Both rappers’ seven-track rap battle was a 'war of words' that was the focus of substantial media scrutiny and digital debate," the court noted.

"Although the claim that plaintiff is a pedophile is undoubtedly a grave allegation, the broader context of a intense musical rivalry, with provocative remarks and insulting claims exchanged by each artist, would not lead the reasonable listener to believe that 'Not Like Us' imparts verifiable facts about the claimant."

She also noted that, in an previous track, the artist had "challenged his rival to make the paedophilia accusations" that featured in the diss record.

On the track Taylor Made Freestyle, the rapper used the synthetic vocals of the late rapper to give Lamar advice on how to prevail in the feud.

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

"It is in this context in which such lyrics as 'Hey Drake, I’ve heard you prefer them young' must be evaluated," stated Judge Vargas.

"The similarity in the phrasing suggests strongly that this lyric is a direct callback to Drake's lyrics in the prior song."

'An Affront to Artists'

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

His lawyers accused the label of launching "an effort to generate a viral hit" out of a track that made the "untrue claim that Drake is a criminal paedophile, and to imply that the public should turn to vigilante justice in response".

Deciding against Drake, the judge said listeners would not expect "truthful accounts" from a musical attack "replete with profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and exaggerated statements."

She pointed out that Drake himself had used similar language, referencing a lyric in which the star "strongly" suggested that "Lamar is a domestic abuser", and a separate instance where Drake "raps that he 'heard' that one of his rival’s children may not be his biological offspring."

Concerning Lamar's song, Judge Vargas said: "Even apparent statements of fact may assume the character of subjective views... when made in open discourse, intense arguments, or other circumstances in which an listener may anticipate the use of epithets, fiery rhetoric or exaggeration."

Responding to the rejection, a label spokesperson said: "From the beginning, this lawsuit was an insult to every creative and their artistic freedom and never should have been filed."

"We are satisfied with the judge’s ruling and look forward to continuing our work effectively marketing the artist’s work and supporting his artistic path," the spokesperson continued.

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

Lamar has not yet issue a statement on the legal matter.