Tupac Shakur’s estate threatens legal action against Drake over AI-generated voice

The hip-hop world is buzzing as Tupac Shakur’s estate has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake, threatening legal action over his recent track “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The track, which uses artificial intelligence to mimic Shakur’s voice, has sparked controversy and drawn the ire of Shakur’s estate.

Released on Drake’s Instagram page, the track features verses emulating both Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg.

The use of AI-generated voices has raised concerns about the ethics of using deceased artists’ likenesses without consent.

In the cease-and-desist letter, Howard King, an attorney representing Shakur’s estate, demanded that Drake remove the track from all platforms where it is publicly available. Failure to comply by noon on Thursday could result in legal action against Drake.

King accused Drake of a “flagrant violation” of Tupac’s publicity and legal rights and of abusing the late rapper’s legacy. The letter also highlighted the economic and reputational harm caused by the unauthorized use of Shakur’s likeness.

The estate seeks damages for all profits from the record and additional compensation for the harm caused. The letter also criticized the use of Shakur’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, accusing Drake of disrespecting the legacy of one of hip-hop’s greatest artists.

The feud between Drake and Lamar has been escalating, with Lamar taking shots at Drake and fellow rapper J. Cole in a recent guest verse on the song “Like That” by rapper Future. Drake responded with “Push Ups” before releasing “Taylor Made Freestyle” as a second diss track.

“Kendrick, we need ya, the West Coast savior / Engraving your name in some hip-hop history / If you deal with this viciously / You seem a little nervous about all the publicity,” the AI-generated voice of Shakur raps in the song.

Snoop Dogg’s AI-generated voice then joins in, taking over the second verse.

“’Cause right now it’s looking like you writin’ out the game plan on how to lose / How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room,” the voice raps. “World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?”

The use of AI tools in music production has raised ethical concerns within the industry. More than 200 artists signed an open letter calling for AI developers and tech companies to avoid undermining the human artistry of songwriters and artists.

The controversy surrounding “Taylor Made Freestyle” echoes a similar incident involving an AI imitation of Drake that went viral last year. The track, “Heart on My Sleeve,” was taken down from streaming services after facing backlash for its unauthorized use of Drake’s voice.

As the music industry grapples with the implications of AI-generated music, the feud between Drake and Lamar has brought these ethical questions to the forefront. The use of Tupac Shakur’s voice in “Taylor Made Freestyle” has sparked a debate about the boundaries of artistic expression and the rights of deceased artists.