All Drake wanted to do was have some fun. But even folks on the country side aren’t having his Tupac cosplay. In an interview with BBC, country icon Sheryl Crow expressed her chagrin toward artists using AI in their music. Specifically, Drake’s use of AI to imitate Tupac’s voice on his Kendrick Lamar diss track, “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
“You cannot bring people back from the dead and believe that they would stand for that,” Crow said. “I’m sure Drake thought, ‘Yeah, I shouldn’t do it, but I’ll say sorry later.’ But it’s already done, and people will find it even if he takes it down. It’s hateful. It is antithetical to the life force that exists in all of us.”
The track was removed from online shortly after its release, largely in part to Tupac’s estate threatening a lawsuit. However, Crow says that Drake’s actions cannot be undone.
But luckily, she isn’t too shaken up about the possibility of AI creeping into the industry. Especially because artists can do what AI can’t — perform with live with pure, raw vocals and instrumentation.
“AI can do lots of things, but it can’t go out and play live,” Crow said. “So as long as we have live music, as long as we have hands holding a paintbrush, all is not lost.”
The use of AI technology in music, but especially in general, has a lot of people upset and frightened. However, it does not seem like it is going to stop evolving any time soon. Like all things in life, it has its benefits and drawbacks. Only time will tell if people stick to being against it or come around to the idea. But right now, it seems like the general consensus is that its ruining authenticity. That is certainly a valid argument, and it is one that GRAMMY award-winning singer Sheryl Crow is using against Drake. According to AllHipHop, the “Soak Up The Sun” songwriter vented her frustrations with BBC in a feature about this, but also her personal experience with AI, and thoughts on it overall.
Part of the reason this was a topic in the first place was because the longtime vocalist talks about the controversial tech on her new album, Evolution. Specifically, this message is spread on the title track as it refers to a time when a producer replaced her vocals with AI John Mayer. With the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef being so public, artists even like Sheryl Crow know generally what has been going on in hip-hop. As we said, the Missouri native was more than displeased with the Canadian superstar, labeling his action as “hateful”, and “antithetical to the life force that exists in all of us”.
Crow continued, “You cannot bring people back from the dead and believe that they would stand for that. I’m sure Drake thought, ‘Yeah, I shouldn’t do it, but I’ll say sorry later.’ But it’s already done, and people will find it even if he takes it down”. “Taylor Made Freestyle” was eventually removed due to a cease-and-desist from legal representatives for Tupac’s estate. But she does have a strong point, as what goes on the internet, stays there forever. That is partially why Crow is nervous for society, but also for her kids. She told her teenagers, “‘You’re growing up with this thing and it doesn’t seem dangerous to you because you’re a frog in a pot of water. But the water is only just starting to boil, and you won’t realize it’s getting hotter until we’re all floating on the top’”.
What are your thoughts on Sheryl Crow putting Drake on blast for using an AI Tupac feature? Are her criticisms valid, why or why not? Do you agree or disagree with her thoughts on the technology in general? Is Drake at the lowest point in his career right now? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Drake. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Before Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s viral lyrical battle reached its peak last month, Drizzy decided to get creative with his diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle.” He used artificial intelligence to replicate the voices of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg, sparking a great deal of controversy in the process. Many listeners found it to be disrespectful, and 2Pac’s estate even threatened to sue him. Eventually, he pulled the track from streaming services to avoid any legal repercussions.
Jermaine Dupri has been a vocal critic of the use of AI in music for some time. Evidently, Drake is no exception. During a recent appearance at Atlanta’s United Masters’ SelectCon conference, he sat down with Steve Stoute to discuss the dangers of the rapidly developing technology. He used “Taylor Made Freestyle” as an example, describing how “dangerous” things could have gotten.
“If you’re going to use AI, you’ve got to use it in a smart way,” Dupri began. “Because the people that are touching it at this point, they don’t understand some of the things that it can damage, right? If you look at the Drake song where he used Snoop and 2Pac’s voice. I don’t think people listen to that and understand how serious people take 2Pac… I think Snoop understood why he shouldn’t answer to it because it could have gotten really dangerous.”
In the past, Dupri also criticized 23-year-old LA artist Sy The Rapper for using AI to replicate Kendrick Lamar’s voice on a track aimed at Drake. At the time, he similarly called it “dangerous.” What do you think of Jermaine Dupri criticizing Drake for using AI to replicate 2Pac and Snoop Dogg’s voices? Do you agree with him or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
The video has been getting plenty of support from fans in the comments section on YouTube. “This is the most brilliant way to use AI I’ve seen in a minute lol well done,” one fan remarked. Another user wrote: “Wouldve been so much better and funnier if he woulda did this instead. You saved it lil bro.”
Drake Performs At Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 9: Rapper Drake performs onstage during “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert” at State Farm Arena on December 9, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
2Pac’s estate described the song as “a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the Estate’s legal right” and “a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time.” A statement from their lawyer continued: “The Estate would never have given its approval for this use. 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.” Check out the latest fan version of the song below.
Fan Edits Drake Back Into “Taylor Made Freestyle”
Someone used AI to add Drake’s voice back to Taylor Made Freestyle after Drake used it to change his voice to Pac and Snoop. What a time to be alive. https://t.co/xqa39gPKMB
— twitch.tv/BDolanOfficial (@BDolanSFR) May 19, 2024
Following the release of “Taylor Made Freestyle,” Drake shared several more songs targeting Lamar, including “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6.” Lamar, on the other hand, has dropped “Meet The Grahams,” “Not Like Us,” and more. Neither has responded since May 5, when Drake shared “The Heart Part 6.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud on HotNewHipHop.
On Wednesday, April 24, Billboard reported that the Shakur estate was “threatening to sue Drake” for “Taylor Made Freestyle” because it used AI to generate Tupac’s voice. Billboard relayed the estate felt it was “‘a flagrant violation’ of the law and a ‘blatant abuse’ of his legacy.”
“In a Wednesday cease-and-desist letter obtained exclusively by Billboard, litigator Howard King told Drake that he must confirm that he will pull down his ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’ in less than 24 hours or the estate would ‘pursue all of its legal remedies’ against him,” Billboard reported.
So, it’s probably not a coincidence that Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” posts have disappeared from his social media accounts as of Thursday evening, April 25.
Tupac’s estate has hit Drake with a cease and desist for using his voice on “Taylor Made”. He has 24 hours to take it down.
“…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.” pic.twitter.com/SrLBuqyvD2
Drake has officially removed “Taylor Made Freestyle” from all social media platforms.
The diss track featured AI vocals from 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. It was taken down shortly after 2Pac’s estate threatened to sue the OVO boss for unapproved likeness. pic.twitter.com/dCW7FhyliD
“Taylor Made Freestyle” also featured AI-generated vocals from Snoop Dogg, who responded as you’d expect Snoop Dogg to respond to such nonsense.
“They did what?” Snoop said in a video posted to his Instagram. “When? How? Are you sure?” He sighed, showed his Death Row Records jacket, wished everyone a good night, laughed, and added, “Everybody calling my phone, blowing me up. What the f*ck? What happened? What’s going on? I’m going back to bed. Goodnight.”
Although it’s been over 25 years since the tragic passing of Tupac Shakur, his name remains alive, and through the power of Artificial Intelligence, his voice apparently continues to echo. If you’ve been hiding under a rock this week, Drake unleashed his second diss track directed toward Kendrick Lamar, “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The follow-up to “Push Ups,” released exclusively on his Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), found Drake treading the muddy waters of AI as he emulated West Coast legends Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur in an attempt to troll Kendrick Lamar.
“Taylor Made Freestyle” – much like the majority of Drake’s recent releases – divided the internet. Some believed it was a brilliant chess move while others felt as though it opened the floodgates for AI and set a terrible precedent for the future of the music industry. Snoop Dogg ultimately shrugged it off humorously on 4/20 yet the estate of Tupac Shakur wasn’t as forgiving. Attorney Howard King, mitigator for Tupac’s Estate, reportedly sent a cease-and-desist demanding Drake remove the song online before facing further legal matters. Ultimately, this raised the question: who runs Tupac Shakur’s estate in 2024?
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 06: Tom Whalley attends the celebration of Tupac’s Powamekka Cafe and preview of Tupac by Vlone on April 6, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for The Estate of Tupac Shakur )
Tom Whalley is currently the executor of Tupac Shakur’s estate with King as the litigator. Whalley took on the role of executor following the death of Tupac’s mother, Afeni Shakur, in 2016. Whalley, who previously served as the CEO of Warner Records, worked at Interscope Records and helped ‘Pac land a record deal with the label.
Who Is Tom Whalley?
Tom Whalley, Chairman/CEO of Warner Bros. Records, Paris Hilton and Scott Storch (Photo by J.Sciulli/WireImage for Warner Bros. Records)
Whalley’s experience in the music industry dates back nearly four decades. As mentioned, he served as the CEO of Warner Music Records and also helped co-found Interscope Records where he eventually signed Tupac. Moreover, he formed Loma Vista Records after his stint with Warner Bros. Loma Vista boasts talents such as Action Bronson, Meechy Darko, Killer Mike, Denzel Curry and more.
Whalley Faces Accusations Of Mishandling Tupac’s Estate
Sekyiwa Shakur, sister of US rapper Tupac Shakur, poses for a photo during his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony in Hollywood, California, on June 7, 2023. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Though King suggests that Whalley is a close confidant of the Shakur family, a lawsuit filed by Tupac’s sister, Sekyiwa Shakur, suggests otherwise. Per Billboard, Shakur accused Whalley of ”blatant violations” as the executor of her brother’s estate in a lawsuit filed to a Los Angeles court in January 2022. She alleged that Whalley put himself in a key management role of Afeni’s estate after her passing. While Afeni was the beneficiary of Tupac’s estate, Whalley became the executor of her estate after her passing.
“He has effectively embezzled millions of dollars for his own benefit,” Sekyiwa wrote. “Whalley has unreasonably enriched himself at the expense of the beneficiaries and in bad faith by taking excessive compensation in a position from which he should properly be barred based on the inherent conflict of interest… Whalley has already received more than $5.5 million that he has paid himself in the last five years through Amaru [Entertainment].”
In response, Howard King stated Whalley was a “friend and confidant” of Tupac and his mother. “These legal claims are disappointing and detrimental to all beneficiaries of the trust,” King said. “We are confident the court will promptly conclude that Tom has always acted in the best interests of Amaru, the trust, and all beneficiaries.”
Tupac Estate Net Worth
Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage)
Though certain sources, such as Celebrity Net Worth, indicate that Tupac passed away with $200K to his name, others, like The Richest, suggest that his estate’s net worth is somewhere around $40M. Though these figures are ballpark estimations, and not definitive, the release of his posthumous albums and his catalog as a whole, along with licensing, merch, and other ventures, has undoubtedly contributed to the impressive figure.
The Connection To Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s love for Tupac has been well-documented over the years, specifically on his 2015 opus, To Pimp A Butterfly. The album’s final song, “Mortal Man,” contains a posthumous conversation between Kendrick and Tupac, deriving from a 20-plus-year-old audio interview with the late rapper. Of course, this likely wouldn’t have been possible without the blessing of Tupac’s Estate which, at the time, was managed by Afeni Shakur alongside Whalley.
“I thought it was a brilliant idea, and they sent me portions of what he was thinking of doing creatively around it, and I supported it. I knew Kendrick was a fan and influenced by Tupac, and I always do what I think Tupac would do,” Whalley said at the time, per Billboard.
With that in mind, it doesn’t come as much of a shock that Tupac’s estate intervened once Drake dropped “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Following the online discourse surrounding the use of AI to replicate the West Coast legend’s voice – a clear attempt to troll Kendrick – King, on behalf of Tupac’s estate, demanded that Drake remove the AI track from his social accounts immediately.
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” Howard King wrote in a letter obtained 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.”
He added, “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.”
In an ironic twist, Drake has been issued a cease-and-desist letter by the estate of the late Tupac Shakur over using an AI-generated reproduction of the West Coast rap icon’s voice in a Kendrick Lamar diss track. According to Billboard, the estate sent the letter today demanding he pull the “Taylor Made Freestyle” from streaming services or face legal action.
The estate’s attorney Howard King wrote, “The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality. 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.”
Tupac’s estate has hit Drake with a cease and desist for using his voice on “Taylor Made”. He has 24 hours to take it down.
“…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.” pic.twitter.com/SrLBuqyvD2
The irony comes from the fact that Drake himself seemed to frown on the use of AI to duplicate his own voice as recently as last year, when a fake song using his and The Weeknd’s digitally reproduced voices was taken down by Universal Music Group copyright strikes. He also personally shaded an AI-generated version of Ice Spice’s “Munch” that used his voice. Incidentally, Kendrick Lamar also cobbled together a conversation between himself and Tupac on his 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly, but in that instance, he had the estate’s permission to re-use audio from an interview, which demonstrates the whole point around publicity rights.
Drake recently came through with a second diss track on Kendrick Lamarcalled “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Overall, this new track features AI vocals from Tupac and Snoop Dogg. Although Snoop seemed to approve, Tupac never had an opportunity to do so. This has led to a debate one whether or not such a thing should have been authorized. After all, Tupac was a legend whom Kendrick admired greatly. Furthermore, Tupac is a legend of hip-hop and fans felt like Drake was way out of line.
Now, according to Billboard, Drake has been hit with a cease & desist from Tupac’s estate. A litigator for the estate, Howard King, sent the letter to Drake, noting that he must take the song down in 24 hours. If he does not, they will “pursue all of its legal remedies” against him. This is extremely serious, and it is clear that Tupac’s family is livid with Drake for his song.
ATLANTA, GA – JUNE 20: Drake performs onstage at Hot 107.9 Birthday Bash Block Show at Phillips Arena on June 20, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” 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.” King also went on to say: “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.”
Let us know what you think about all of this, in the comments section down below. Do you believe Drake will take the song down? Moreover, will taking down this song create a good precedent against AI art? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the music world. We will always keep you informed on all of your favorite artists.
Every corner of the rap community continues to be captivated by the civil war going on right now. One prominent figure that has been enjoying the war of words has been Joe Budden. The rapper turned podcaster has been reacting and giving his two cents on the situation as of late. His most recent discussion was around “Push Ups” and his favorite bar. But a new clip from the Joe Budden podcast has now surfaced for the “Taylor Made Freestyle.” At the start of the snippet, the New Yorker was clearly hyped to be back in the podcast studio.
Before him and the crew got into the recent diss though, the panel wanted to address some chatter that Drake was trying to “box them out” of the beef talk. Because “Taylor Made” came out on April 19 (a Friday), they were not able to react to it right away. However, Joe Budden made sure to be clear that if the diss was essentially good enough, he would react to it ASAP. But the podcast crew decided to wait until they were scheduled to come back to give their thoughts. They also did not come in early because “Drake listens to [Joe Budden] more than Kendrick does.”
With that out of the way, what about their thoughts on the freestyle? Well, Joe and the crew thoroughly enjoyed it. They appreciated the aspect of incorporating AI verses from Snoop Dogg and Tupac. Additionally, they thought the beat was excellent and Budden even went as far as to say that Drake was a “genius” for this. They believe that Drake is just taunting K-Dot right now, but he that does have some serious “venom” ready to go when Lamar eventually responds.
What are your thoughts on Joe Budden and his response to Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle?” Are you surprised that he has so much praise for the track? What freestyle have you been enjoying more and why? How do you feel about Drake using AI for second diss? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Joe Budden and Drake. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
It’s been a hell of a time for fans of Hip Hop. The number of diss tracks that have emerged in 2024 has been quite a lot. Not that we’re complaining, though. The shake-up has led to some of the most exciting disses in a while, and we’ve had to grasp every single detail about a ton of rapper feuds. The crazy thing, however, is that they all seem to have broken out all at once within the industry. However, while most of these feuds have been met with praise, Drake’s latest effort, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” hasn’t been warmly received. And this boils down to his use of AI on the track.
The spark that ignited the rap beef was J. Cole’s mention of Kendrick Lamar in “The Big Three” on the track “First Person Shooter.” Kendrick subsequently dropped a surprise verse as a response on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” J. Cole continued the diss by discrediting Lamar’s discography on “7 Minute Drill.” However, in a surprising feat, he eventually retracted the track from streaming platforms, but what stood out the most was that J. Cole subsequently issued an apology to Lamar.
Not one to let things go, however, Drake released “Push Ups” as his own response. Although “Push Ups” was widely successful, public opinion still remains that Drake lyrically hit the ball out of the park. However, a follow-up diss track was released on April 19th—Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle.” But unlike “Push Ups,” this was way more controversial. Why? Because Drake addresses Kendrick Lamar using AI vocals of Hip Hop legends Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg.
Unlike Pac, who died in 1996, Snoop Dogg is very much alive to witness Drake’s shenanigans. Snoop seems to have been as shocked by the stunt as everyone else. In a hilarious Instagram post, he expressed his surprise: “They did what? When? How? Are you sure? [Sigh] Y’all have a good night. Why is everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the f— what happened? What’s going on? I’m going back to bed. Good night.” It’s safe to say that Snoop wasn’t all about that mess.
“Taylor Made” is certifiably a stellar track, as far as diss tracks go. For one, it is most likely a show-off to the public allegations that “Push Ups” was an AI track. Secondly, and perhaps most interestingly, is how Drake attempts to undermine Kendrick Lamar. Overall, this is a calculated strategy to belittle status as a heavyweight in the game. His use of AI seems to be a conscious effort to draw out a response from K-Dot.
Drake (as Tupac) addresses Kendrick Lamar on “Taylor Made,” saying: “Kendrick we need ya, the West Coast savior / Engraving your name in some hip-hop history… Call him a b*tch for me / Talk about him liking young girls as a gift for me.” While urging him to respond and engrave his name in “some Hip Hop history,” Drake also attempts to poke holes in perhaps all of Kendrick’s likely talking points for a diss track. These include the fact that he is Canadian and light-skinned.
As most are aware, Kendrick Lamar has often been compared to Tupac Shakur. In fact, Kendrick himself has admitted to carrying on Tupac’s legacy. With these (and the following lines), Drake’s Tupac starts to question just how capable Kendrick is of taking on Tupac’s identity, if he can’t even stand the heat of facing him like Tupac did Biggie with “Hit ‘em Up,” one of the greatest diss tracks to ever exist. It’s important to note that Kendrick’s silence hasn’t sat well with fans. Many have clamored for him to issue a response to Drake, not just for “Taylor Made,” but also for “Push Ups.”
Drake Is Ready To Go To Rap War
Following his Tupac stint, Drake switches to Snoop Dogg’s vocals to speak to Lamar. He references Snoop “passing on the torch” to Kendrick Lamar at the House of Blues in 2011. Just like AI Tupac, AI Snoop also seems to also be disappointed in Kendrick’s silence. The elephant in the room is why Kendrick remains quiet after being challenged by someone like Drake. “World is watching this chess game, but oh you out of moves Dot / You know that the OG never f*cking doubted you / But right now it seem like you posted up without a clue / Or what the f*ck you ’bout to do.”
Eventually, Drake finally switches to his own voice. However, he also makes it known that both “Taylor Made” and “Push Ups” were light work for him. He also claims he’s more than capable of going a few more rounds against Kendrick. Finally, he ascribes Kendrick’s silence to Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department, which is sure to top the charts.
“But now we gotta wait a f*cking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new top (referencing Lamar’s former record label Top Dawg Entertainment) / And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve / This girl really ’bout to make you act like you not in a feud.”
Is This A Misguided Effort?
Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur (Photo by Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage)
For all its bravado and swagger, Drake’s “Taylor Made” is not without its pitfalls. By invoking Tupac’s name and legacy, Drake risks inviting comparisons that may ultimately work to Lamar’s advantage. There’s also the fact that AI use is still considered a major taboo in music. Drake lavishly utilizing it can easily be seen as a heavily misguided idea. After all, he is using it without the consent of the people in question. Particularly, one of the artists is dead and cannot speak for themselves. Therefore, it’s quite easy to see why many consider this as Drake crossing a line. Nonetheless, on the flip side, many could argue that there are no rules regarding diss tracks. Take Chris Brown, who recently referenced the passing of Takeoff in his diss track for Quavo.
Also, while it is obviously impressive to use up all the ammo that Kendrick Lamar could use on him, it still is pretty weird to describe himself as “liking younger women.” This attempted 8 Mile move, unfortunately, doesn’t hit quite as hard. While it’s commendable to poke fun at oneself, there’s obviously some things to consider. It’s pretty evident that Drake isn’t interested in that, though.
Conclusion
Altogether, there is no one way to look at Drake’s “Taylor Made” diss track. It is both a divisive and creative moment in the ongoing saga of his rivalry with Kendrick Lamar. Another thing to note is that Drake seeks to be in a hurry to assert his dominance over Lamar. While this works in his favor, as he continues to earn public recognition, many have begun to sense it as a desperate move. Evidently, his campaign to reaffirm his status as king of “the big three” of Hip Hop is still very much alive. Regardless, whether or not he succeeds in this endeavor remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar shows no signs of abating, and Hip Hop is all the richer for it.
