The estate of iconic American hip-hop artist 2Pac has issued a stern warning to Canadian rapper Drake regarding his recent diss track involving an AI-generated rendition of 2Pac’s voice. In a cease-and-desist letter sent on Wednesday, litigator Howard King gave Drake a tight ultimatum: remove the contentious track within 24 hours or face legal consequences.
The letter, penned by King, unequivocally demanded the removal of the diss track, citing it as a direct infringement on 2Pac’s publicity and the legal rights of his estate. King’s words minced no measure, condemning the track as a “blatant abuse” of the revered rapper’s legacy, emphasizing 2Pac’s standing as one of the genre’s greatest artists.
Moreover, the estate expressed deep disappointment at the unauthorized use of 2Pac’s voice in a derogatory manner aimed at fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar, who is regarded as a friend to the late artist’s legacy. The estate asserted that such usage only compounds the insult and disrespect shown towards 2Pac’s memory.
Drake’s track, titled ‘Taylor Made Freestyle,’ released last Friday, featured AI-generated versions of not only 2Pac’s voice but also that of Snoop Dogg. However, the focus of the estate’s ire lies squarely on the misuse of 2Pac’s voice, emphasizing that permission would have never been granted had Drake sought it.