The estate of late rapper Tupac Shakur is threatening to sue Drake over a diss track using Shakur’s likeness with the help of artificial intelligence.
Last Friday, the Canadian rapper released a diss track on Instagram titled “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which was directed at Kendrick Lamar. It uses an AI-generated voice of Shakur as well as Snoop Dogg. The fake voices of the rap giants are heard urging the Compton native to protect the legacy of West Coast hip-hop.
Prominent entertainment attorney Howard E. King is representing Shakur’s estate, according to Pitchfork. In a statement obtained by the site, King called the diss “a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the Estate’s legal right” and “a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.”
“The Estate would never have given its approval for this use. The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of Tupac’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult.”
Over the past few weeks, Drake and “The Recipe” rapper have been involved in a highly-publicized beef.
Lamar slammed Drake and his tour mate, the rapper J. Cole, when K.Dot appeared on Future and Metro Boomin’ song “Like That” off of their album “We Don’t Trust You,” signaling that the three had an issue with Drake and Cole.
Lamar references the pair’s recent hit “First Person Shooter” from Drake’s 2023 album “For All the Dogs” in his verse.
From there, Cole, born Jermaine Lamarr Cole, retaliated with his song “7 Minute Drill.” However, during his performance at North Carolina’s annual Dreamville Festival, he publicly bowed out.
Rapper Rick Ross has also jumped in by creating a diss track of his own against Drake called “Champagne Moments.”
Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, fired back on Friday afternoon with the song “Push-ups,” where he targets Lamar, Ross, Future and Metro Boomin’. Hours later, Drake released the A.I. “Taylor Made Freestyle,” going “Back to Back” with diss tracks like he did when beefing with Meek Mill in 2015.
After it was released, Long Beach’s own Snoop Dogg took to Instagram to express his confusion over what just happened as he was asleep.
“They did what? When? How? Are you sure? Y’all have a good night,” Snoop said with a smirk.
“Why did everyone call my phone blowing me up? What the f–k? What happened? What’s going on? I’m going back to bed. Goodnight.”
So far, the “m.A.A.d City” artist hasn’t responded.
In the meantime, Shakur’s estate plans “to pursue all of its legal remedies” if Drake doesn’t take down the song. So far, it remains on his page.
There hasn’t always been bad blood between Drake and the four men. In fact, until recently, they’ve collaborated with him frequently and prominently.
The Calabasas resident and Lamar have worked together on the songs “Poetic Justice” and “F–kin’ Problems.”
Metro Boomin’ has produced numerous songs that feature Drake like “Child’s Play.” He also produced “Jumpman,” which is from Drake and Future’s 2015 joint album “What A Time To Be Alive.” Drake and Future also went on tour together in 2016.
Ross and Drizzy recorded hits together like “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” “Stay Schemin’,” “Aston Martin Music,” “Money and the Grave” and more.
