“It’s also a blatant abuse of Legacy…”: Drake Gets into Legal Trouble For His Recent Stunt to Diss Kendrick Lamar
The use of AI in music is being put to the test in a big way. Over 200 music artists, including top names like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, J Balvin, and Jon Bon Jovi, have signed a letter speaking out against the predatory use of AI in tunes.
A high-profile legal battle is putting these concerns in spotlight, as Tupac Shakur’s estate threatens to sue Drake for using AI-generated vocals to diss Kendrick Lamar. The estate said it’s a clear misuse of 2Pac’s legacy.
Drake Faces Legal Consequences After Dissing Kendrick Lamar Through his Music
Drake has dropped a new song titled Taylor Made Freestyle on his Instagram that includes AI-generated verses from late Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, targeting Kendrick Lamar.
In the song, the AI 2Pac calls out K-Dot for staying quiet since releasing a diss track titled Like That. He raps lines like, “Kendrick we need ya, the West Coast savior / Making your mark in hip-hop history,” adding, “Call him out for me / Mentioning his interest in young girls as a favor to me.”
Now, Shakur’s family and estate are strongly denying any connection to the diss track. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Howard King, the lawyer for the late singer’s estate, asked the Canadian rapper to take down the song from all public platforms. The letter, written by King, reads (as reported by Billboard):
“Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupac’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. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use. The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of 2Pac’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to 2Pac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult.”
OVO dropped the song on 19th April as he waits for Lamar’s response to his new track Push Ups (Drop and Give Me 50). It all started when Lamar added a surprise verse to Future and Metro Boomin’s song Like That on their album, We Don’t Trust You.
The 17 time Grammy awardee took issue with being included in ‘the big three’ by J. Cole in their collab First Person Shooter, which was part of Champagne Papi’s 2023 album For All the Dogs.
A Growing Ethical Debate in Music
This situation shows a big argument going on in the music world about whether it’s right to use AI to make music. While AI can help make music more accessible and innovative, there are concerns it could be misused to create fake videos or replace real musicians.
Many artists have signed a letter (issued by the Artist Rights Alliance advocacy group on Medium) urging tech companies to use AI to enhance music rather than replace human creativity. The lawsuit raises questions about who owns music created with AI. Copyright laws protect music made by people, but it’s not clear how they apply to AI-generated music.
Also Read: Uma Thurman Sides With Drake Amid His Heated Battle With Kendrick Lamar With a Thoughtful Offer
The outcome of Tupac Shakur’s estate’s legal fight with Drake could have big effects on the music world. This case could decide how artists and their estates can safeguard their image and legacy online.
