Tupac Shakur’s Estate Threatens Legal Action Against Drake Over AI-Generated Vocals

The legacy of Tupac Shakur, one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time, is at the center of a legal battle. The late rapper’s estate has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake, expressing deep dismay and disappointment over his unauthorized use of an AI-generated imitation of Tupac’s voice in a new diss track.

Drake recently released a follow-up diss track aimed at former collaborator Kendrick Lamar. Titled “Taylor Made (Freestyle),” the song features a verse where the Tupac sound-alike raps: “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.”

In the cease-and-desist letter, Tupac’s estate asserts that Drake’s use of the AI-generated vocals is a blatant abuse of Tupac’s legacy. The estate would never have given its approval for such a release. Furthermore, the track also dismays the estate due to its use of Tupac’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, who has consistently shown respect for Tupac and his legacy.

The estate’s lawyer argues that Drake’s song falsely implies that Tupac’s estate endorses the lyrics for the sound-alike. Additionally, the track has adversely affected the market for Amaru Entertainment, Inc.’s own AI projects. The estate emphasizes the potential harm that unauthorized AI impersonations can cause to artists, including Drake himself.

As the legal battle unfolds, questions arise about the intersection of technology, artistic expression, and the rights of deceased artists. Tupac’s voice, once iconic, now echoes through artificial intelligence, leaving us to ponder the boundaries of creativity and respect for artistic legacies.