It doesn’t seem like Tupac Shakur‘s estate is feeling Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
According to Billboard, the estate of Tupac Shakur has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Drake, handled by litigator Howard King, giving him 24 hours to remove the track or face legal action.
The letter from Tupac’s estate expresses strong disapproval of the unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality. “The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” the letter states. It describes the record as a “flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights,” and a “blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.”
Despite the controversy, “Taylor Made Freestyle” remains available on Drake’s Instagram page, though it has not been released on major streaming platforms. The track notably targets Kendrick Lamar, escalating the ongoing tension between the two artists. The use of Tupac’s likeness in this context has particularly upset the estate, as Kendrick Lamar is noted to be a respectful admirer of Tupac’s legacy.
The estate also claims that “Taylor Made Freestyle” has caused “substantial economic and reputational harm,” misleading listeners into believing that Tupac’s estate endorses the lyrics. The estate is now demanding Drake explain the creation process of the AI-generated Tupac voice, including details about the technology and parties involved in crafting the sound-alike.
While Drake has not yet responded, Tupac’s estate is open to resolving the issue through informal negotiation if Drake adheres to their demands. Otherwise, they are prepared to “pursue all of its legal remedies,” including claims for damages and injunctive relief.
The track also features an AI-generated voice of Snoop Dogg, who has reacted hilariously on social media, expressing confusion and a desire to distance himself from the situation.
“They did what? When? How? Are you sure? Y’all have a good night,” Snoop said in a video. “Why everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the fuck? What happened? What’s going on? I’m going back to bed. Good night,” Snoop said on Instagram.
Drake released “Taylor Made Freestyle” on April 19. The track uses AI technology to simulate Tupac and Snoop Dogg asking Kendrick Lamar to respond to Drake’s previous diss track, “Push Ups.”
