The estate of Tupac Shakur has sent Drake a legal notice demanding him to remove "Taylor Made Freestyle" from his platforms within 24 hours due to the unauthorized use of an AI-generated version of Tupac's voice. According to court documents obtained by Complex and initially reported by Billboard, litigator Howard King has informed Drake of potential legal action if he fails to comply.
The estate expressed disappointment over the unauthorized use of Tupac's voice, stating that the song not only violates Tupac's publicity and the estate's legal rights but also disrespects the legacy of the legendary hip-hop artist. The estate emphasized that they would never have approved such use of Tupac's voice.
The track takes aim at Kendrick Lamar, escalating the ongoing feud between the two rappers. Tupac's estate has criticized the use of his likeness in targeting Lamar, especially considering Lamar's respect for Tupac's legacy.
Furthermore, the estate argued that "Taylor Made Freestyle" has caused significant economic and reputational damage by misleading listeners into thinking that Tupac and his estate endorse the track.
Howard King, representing the estate, has requested Drake to provide details about how the AI-generated Tupac voice was created, including any data used in the process.
So far, Drake has not responded to the legal notice. However, the estate has indicated a willingness to negotiate informally if Drake meets their demands. Failure to comply may lead to legal action, including potential copyright infringement, violation of publicity and personality rights, and other damages.
In addition to Tupac, the song also features an AI-generated voice of Snoop Dogg. While Snoop has not announced any legal actions, he has reacted to the track on social media with surprise and confusion.
