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.
Suge Knight criticized Drake’s use of A.I. to create a verse from the likeness of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg on his latest Kendrick Lamar diss, “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Not only did he think using ‘Pac as a “pawn” was lame, but he also blamed Snoop Dogg for the late rapper’s demise and said putting them on a song together is a “bad look.” Knight discussed the track during the latest episode of his Collect Call podcast.
“Young people do what young people do. It’s y’all turn, but regarding the homie ‘Pac, he wasn’t no chump,” he said. “Putting him on a song and dissing Kendrick [Lamar] for everybody entertainment — that ain’t how it go. Then putting him on a song with Snoop, who was a part of his downfall and exit, ain’t ever a good look. ‘Pac was a king on that chessboard. He never was a pawn, so he can’t make him be a pawn now.”
Suge Knight Poses With 2Pac & Dr. Dre On “California Love” Set
From left, American record executive Suge Knight (born Marion Knight Jr), Rap musician Tupac Shakur (1971 – 1996), and rapper and producer Dr Dre (born Andre Young) on the set of Shakur’s ‘California Love’ music video, El Mirage, California, October 13, 1995. (Photo by Nitro/Getty Images)
Snoop Dogg also reacted to the track, sharing a video of himself on Instagram seemingly confused by the drama. “They did what? When? How? Are you sure? [Sigh] Y’all have a good night,” he said after the song dropped. “Why everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the f*ck— what happened? What’s going on? I’m going back to bed. Good night.” Additionally, 2Pac’s brother, Mopreme Shakur, told TMZ he wasn’t a fan of how Drake weaponized the late rapper for a beef.
Suge Knight Speaks On Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle”
Check out Suge Knight’s comments on Drake’s latest Kendrick Lamar diss below. Be on the lookout for further updates on the feud on HotNewHipHop.
Amongst fans, Drake is known by many nicknames, including the 6 God, Drizzy, Certified Lover Boy, and Champagne Papi. But the “First Person Shooter” rapper’s latest jab at Kendrick Lamar has users online calling him the technology tyrant.
Seemingly unsatisfied with the reaction to his first diss response (“Push Ups“) aimed at his longtime frenemy, today (April 20), Drake doubled back with “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
As he had hoped, the track quickly gained traction online, but not for the lyrics. Despite his extreme dislike for AI-generated verses, Drake dialed his petty notch up a level to formulate some bars for Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac.
On “Push Ups,” when Drake claimed to receive more love in Lamar’s hometown (Compton), folks laughed. So, Drake took it into his own hand to secure the co-signs from California’s biggest rappers, even if it is artificial. While most responses online aren’t in Drake’s favor, dubbing the move “clownish.” Others have applauded him for putting a spin on Lamar’s AI-generated onscreen cameos from stars the state proudly embraced (Nipsey Hussle, Kobe Bryant, and more) in the music video for “The Heart Part 5.”
Tupac’s estate hasn’t responded to having been inserted into the ongoing war of words between the emcees. However, Snoop surely had a good laugh at it. View his response below.
