2Pac Estate Threatens Legal Action As Drake’s AI Diss Gets Taken Down

Drake’s social media post of “Taylor Made Freestyle” on Instagram, featuring the AI-generated voices of Snoop Dogg and the late rapper 2Pac, drew significant attention. The song was aimed at Kendrick Lamar, with whom Drake had a public feud. Despite the song going viral, 2Pac’s estate expressed their displeasure with it, causing the track to be taken down. 2Pac’s brother, Mopreme Shakur, publicly criticized Drake’s decision to use his brother’s voice in the song. Mopreme argued that the decision was disrespectful and that it was necessary to respect the legacy of artists who passed away. 2Pac’s estate also issued a statement to Billboard, condemning Drake’s actions and calling it a “blatant abuse” of 2Pac’s legacy. The estate also claimed that Drake’s use of AI was a “flagrant violation” of the law and threatened legal action if the song was not taken down. Drake used 2Pac to bait Kendrick Lamar into a rap battle, suggesting that they are on different musical planes.

Litigator Howard King demanded that Drake take down the song within 24 hours or face legal consequences in a cease-and-desist letter sent to Drake and his legal team. Drake did not respond to the situation with 2Pac’s estate, but he did remove “Taylor Made Freestyle” from Instagram on April 25, 2018. The song was not uploaded to any streaming platforms, making it no longer available legally.

Drake’s use of AI in the song drew criticism from music publications. Rolling Stone published an op-ed in which the author claimed that Drake had “made himself look bad” and argued that his use of AI in music set a dangerous precedent for the music industry. Nonetheless, Drake’s use of AI in “Taylor Made Freestyle” sparked a conversation on the potential use of AI in music and the need to respect the legacy of artists who have passed away.

Drake’s media relationship with 2Pac has been complex. But let’s be clear: He isn’t trying to replace 2Pac in any way. In 2011, Drake saw a sign that read “Less Drake, More 2Pac.” Instead of being discouraged, he bought the sign and used it to motivate himself as a rapper. In the 2016 song “4 PM In Calabasas,” he paid homage to Makaveli by referencing him, but he never attempted to replicate 2Pac’s style. Drake has continually drawn inspiration from 2Pac and considers him one of the greatest ever to do it. But let’s not forget that Drake is one of our time’s most successful and influential rappers. He has his style, and he’s not trying to be anyone else. The impact of Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” in this regard remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that he will continue to be one of the biggest names in the industry.

2Pac's estate threatens to sue Drake over his use of AI vocals on 'Taylor Made Freestyle'

“Not only is the record a flagrant violation of 2Pac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.”… pic.twitter.com/iJP4XOQgcN

— 2Pac News (@2pacnews) April 24, 2024

2Pac's estate threatens to sue Drake over his use of AI vocals on 'Taylor Made Freestyle'

“Not only is the record a flagrant violation of 2Pac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.”… pic.twitter.com/E6SfbT2mu3

— Kurrco (@Kurrco) April 24, 2024