The integration of artificial intelligence into Hip-Hop has stirred controversy, and a recent incident involving Tupac Shakur’s estate highlights the complexities. Allegedly, Drake’s latest release, “Taylor Made,” directed at Kendrick Lamar, featured A.I.-generated verses mimicking the voices of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg.

A cease-and-desist letter was dispatched to the Toronto rapper on Wednesday, as exclusively revealed by Billboard. Drake has purportedly been given a brief window of less than 24 hours to remove the track, or else face legal repercussions from the estate.

Litigator Howard King, representing the estate, expressed profound disappointment in Drake’s unauthorized utilization of Tupac’s voice and persona. King emphasized that the track not only infringes upon Tupac’s publicity rights but also egregiously exploits the legacy of one of Hip-Hop’s most revered artists. The letter emphasized the estate’s non-approval of such usage.

TUPAC SHAKUR ESTATE

“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” litigator Howard King wrote in the letter. “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.”

Furthermore, the letter acknowledged Kendrick Lamar’s connection to the matter, stating that the use of Tupac’s voice against him amplifies the offense, considering Lamar’s demonstrated respect for Tupac and his legacy. The statement continued, “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.”

Drake unveiled “Taylor Made” on April 19, marking his latest salvo in the ongoing exchange with Kendrick Lamar. The track featured lines purportedly delivered in a simulated Pac voice, including references to Lamar’s impact on West Coast hip-hop.

Mopreme Shakur, Tupac’s brother, also voiced criticism against Drake’s use of his late family member’s voice. In an interview with TMZ,  Mopreme described the use as the “weaponization” of Tupac’s voice in a rap feud. He drew parallels to employing heavy artillery in a one-on-one confrontation, emphasizing Tupac’s stature and legacy should not be manipulated for personal disputes, echoing sentiments previously expressed by Suge Knight.