Drake Removes AI Tupac Track from Instagram Amid Legal Dispute

Written By : Leah De-Graft Takyi

Drake’s highly anticipated track featuring an AI-generated version of Tupac Shakur’s voice has disappeared from the rapper’s social media accounts after lawyers for the late hip-hop icon reportedly threatened legal action.

The Canadian megastar released the track, titled Taylor Made Freestyle, last Friday, which also utilized AI to mimic the voice of Snoop Dogg. However, on Wednesday, reports surfaced stating that Tupac’s estate had issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake, demanding the removal of the track within 24 hours.

The post containing the clip mysteriously vanished from Drake’s @Champagnepapi account on Thursday evening, sparking speculation among fans and the music industry. Neither Drake nor representatives for Tupac’s estate have publicly commented on the situation since the track was removed.

According to music magazine Billboard, Howard King, a lawyer representing Tupac’s estate, sent the cease-and-desist letter to Drake earlier this week. The letter labeled Taylor Made Freestyle as a “flagrant violation” of the law and an “abuse” of Tupac’s legacy. It also warned of legal action should Drake fail to comply with the demand to take down the track.

The legal dispute further highlighted Drake’s previous objection to having his voice cloned in another AI-generated track, Heart on My Sleeve, which also imitated the voice of Canadian singer The Weeknd. Taylor Made Freestyle was intended to be a part of an ongoing diss track battle between Drake and his rival Kendrick Lamar.

The AI-generated lines in the track from Tupac and Snoop Dogg reportedly took shots at Kendrick Lamar, which was mentioned in the legal letter from Tupac’s estate. The letter praised Lamar as a “good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately.”

In addition to the controversy surrounding the AI-generated voices, Drake’s own lyrics in the track referenced pop star Taylor Swift and alluded to his recent album, For All the Dogs. The track also made headlines for its mention of a line where Drake stated he would delay his album release to avoid clashing with a prominent pop star.

Tupac Shakur, known as 2Pac, was a revered figure in the hip-hop industry, with a legacy that continues to resonate to this day. His tragic death in 1996 at the age of 25 sent shockwaves through the music world, and his impact on the genre remains unparalleled.

As the legal battle between Drake and Tupac’s estate unfolds, fans and industry insiders await further developments on the fate of Taylor Made Freestyle and the implications it may have on the use of AI-generated voices in music. The BBC has reached out to Tupac estate lawyer Howard King and Drake’s representatives for comment on the matter.