Drake, the Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist, recently found himself in legal hot water after releasing a diss track titled “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The song featured an AI-generated version of Tupac Shakur’s iconic voice, and it quickly became a topic of controversy.
“Taylor Made Freestyle” dropped last week, and fans were intrigued by the unexpected collaboration. Drake used artificial intelligence (AI) software to create verses that emulated both Tupac and Snoop Dogg. The diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar had reportedly been streamed over a million times on various platforms.
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Tupac Shakur’s estate wasted no time in responding. Howard King, an attorney representing Tupac’s estate, issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake. The letter demanded that the rapper remove the track from all public platforms where it was available. King’s statement emphasized the unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality, calling it a “flagrant violation” of Tupac’s rights and legacy.
Related: 2Pac’s estate threatens to sue Drake over use of late rapper’s AI-generated voice on “taylor made freestyle”
Tupac Shakur remains one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, and his estate takes protecting his legacy seriously. The use of AI-generated vocals crossed a line for them, and they made it clear that they would never have approved such a collaboration. King’s statement expressed deep disappointment and dismay over the situation.
Snoop Dogg, another West Coast legend, also contributed AI-generated vocals to the track. In a video posted on Instagram, he seemed to playfully question the whole affair: “They did what? When? How? Are you sure?” Snoop’s lighthearted response added to the intrigue surrounding the diss track.
“Taylor Made Freestyle” was Drake’s second diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar. The feud escalated after Kendrick seemingly dissed Drake and J. Cole on the song “Like That,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 Chart last month. Before that, Drake had released “Push Ups,” another diss track targeting Kendrick.
Drake promptly took down “Taylor Made Freestyle” from his Instagram page and X account after receiving the legal warning. However, the 37-year-old artist has remained silent about the song’s removal. Fans are left wondering whether he’ll address the controversy publicly.
The clash between AI-generated vocals, hip-hop legends, and legal threats has thrust “Taylor Made Freestyle” into the spotlight. As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Tupac’s legacy remains untouchable, even in the digital age.
