• A federal judge dismissed Drake's lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar's lyrics in "Not Like Us."
• The judge ruled the lyrics were opinion, not defamatory, framing it within the context of a rap battle.
• "Not Like Us" won multiple Grammys and has been a major hit for Lamar.
• Drake's team plans to appeal the ruling, which UMG welcomed as a win for artistic expression.
• The song's insinuations have been central to a long-running feud between the two artists.

A federal judge in New York has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by rapper Drake against Universal Music Group (UMG), ruling that the lyrics in Kendrick Lamar's track "Not Like Us," which accuse Drake of being a pedophile, are considered opinion rather than defamatory statements. Judge Jeannette A. Vargas characterized the case as stemming from "perhaps the most infamous rap battle in the genre's history," highlighting the contentious nature of the exchange between the two artists. The court stated that the broader context of a heated rap battle, laden with incendiary language, would not lead a reasonable listener to conclude that the song communicates verifiable facts about Drake, according to CBS News, Reuters, The Hill, and BBC.

Drake had initially filed the lawsuit in January, claiming UMG was responsible for allowing the publication and promotion of "Not Like Us," which he argued perpetuated false accusations against him, threatened his safety, and degraded his brand's value. The lyrics in question were declared by the judge to present "nonactionable opinion," and the case was dismissed in response to UMG's defense that the lawsuit was an attack on artistic expression. UMG expressed satisfaction with the court's ruling, stating the lawsuit "never should have seen the light of day," according to CBS News and Reuters.

"Not Like Us," hailed as a pivotal moment in the rivalry between the two rappers, achieved significant commercial success, including Grammy Awards for record and song of the year. The song notably featured during the Super Bowl halftime show, capturing wide attention. Despite the ruling, Drake's team plans to appeal, contesting the implications of certain lyrics as harmful and defamatory, as reported by The Hill and BBC.