News of April 24, 2024
Ultimatum over an AI voice: Tupac's estate sends Drake a cease-and-desist
Tupac's estate demands that Drake take down "Taylor Made Freestyle" with the AI voice within 24 hours, or face legal action.
On April 24, 2024, attorney Howard King sent a letter to Drake on behalf of Tupac’s estate. Billboard obtained a copy.
An abuse of Tupac’s legacy
The estate was “deeply dismayed and disappointed” by the unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality in “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The record was “a flagrant violation” of Tupac’s publicity rights and the estate’s legal rights, and “a blatant abuse” of his legacy. The estate would never have approved it. King demanded that Drake confirm within 24 hours that he would take the song down. Otherwise, the estate would pursue all legal remedies.
A voice as a weapon
Particularly insulting, the letter said, was that the voice was used against Kendrick Lamar of all people, “a good friend to the Estate.” A day earlier, Mopreme Shakur, Tupac’s stepbrother, had told TMZ that using his brother’s voice as a weapon in a rap feud was unnecessary. Suge Knight also objected. How Drake responded is in the item of April 25.