Atlanta, Georgia – Drake finds himself in legal trouble as Tupac Shakur’s estate threatens to take legal action over his recent Kendrick Lamar diss track. The track, titled “Taylor Made Freestyle,” was released on Drake’s Instagram page, where he used AI software to mimic the voices of both Shakur and Snoop Dogg.
In a cease-and-desist letter sent by Howard King, an attorney representing Shakur’s estate, Drake was requested to remove the track from all public platforms. Failure to comply by noon Thursday would result in the estate pursuing legal action against the Canadian rapper.
The letter emphasized that the use of an AI-generated version of Tupac’s voice in the track violated Shakur’s publicity rights, as well as his legacy as one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The estate made it clear that they never authorized such use of Shakur’s likeness.
Aside from seeking damages for the unauthorized use of Shakur’s voice, the estate also highlighted the harm caused to Shakur’s reputation by giving the false impression that the estate endorses the lyrics of the AI-generated voice.
This legal battle comes amidst Drake and Lamar’s ongoing feud, with “Taylor Made Freestyle” being Drake’s latest diss track against Lamar. The track was released following Lamar’s verse on “Like That,” where he took shots at Drake and fellow rapper J. Cole.
The use of AI tools in music production has raised ethical concerns within the industry, with over 200 artists signing an open letter urging AI developers to not undermine or replace the artistry of human songwriters and artists. This incident with Drake and Shakur’s estate adds to the growing conversation about the implications of AI-generated music on the industry.
The situation is reminiscent of another incident where a song featuring unauthorized AI emulations of Drake was taken down from streaming services after going viral. The cease-and-desist letter referenced this incident to highlight the potential consequences of using AI in music production without proper authorization.
As the legal battle between Drake and Shakur’s estate unfolds, it raises questions about the boundaries of creativity and respect within the music industry. The outcome of this dispute could have broader implications for how AI is used in music production moving forward.