Tupac

Drake’s ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’ Disappeared From Social Media After Tupac’s Estate Threatened Legal Action Over AI Usage

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Look what Kendrick Lamar started. Long story short: Lamar ignited multi-pronged rap beef with his verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Like That,” which J. Cole responded to with “7 Minute Drill,” but he immediately regretted it and scrubbed it from streaming services. Last weekend, Drake posted “Taylor Made Freestyle,” among his Kendrick diss tracks, to his social media channels. Lamar has yet to respond, but Tupac Shakur’s estate did.

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.

“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.”

Tupac’s Estate Issues Cease-and-Desist Letter to Drake Over AI-Voice in “Taylor Made Freestyle”

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The Tupac Shakur estate has warned Drake for using an AI-generated voice of the late rap icon in his diss track to Kendrick Lamar.

According to Billboard, the estate is threatening to sue and stated the voice was “a flagrant violation” and “blatant use” of Pac’s legacy.

The message was delivered via a cease-and-desist letter filed by Howard King, requesting Drake pull the song within 24 hours or face all of the estate’s “legal remedies.”

“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.”

Additionally, the letter reads, “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.”

Last Friday (April 19) on Instagram, Drake dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”

Upon pressing play, you will hear something you wouldn’t expect: Tupac’s voice. The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stand up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.

AI Tupac raps:
Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot
We need an undebated West Coast victory, man
Call him a bitch for me
Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me
Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true
They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive
In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you

AI Snoop added:
‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose
How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room
World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?

After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk:
The first one really only took me an hour or two
The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you
But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top
And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve

Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused
How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed
You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah
Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through

He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”

You can hear it below.

Snoop Dogg offered his response to his voice being used in Drake’s diss song to Kendrick Lamar.

Hitting Instagram, Snoop said: “They did what? When? How? Are you sure? Y’all have a good night.”

Additionally, Snoop revealed his phone exploded once the song hit the net.

You can see Snoop’s response below.

Former Death Row head Suge Knight doesn’t like Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss to Kendrick Lamar. Not because it attacked Lamar but because it put 2Pac and Snoop’s voices together on the song.

Speaking on his Collect Call with Suge Knight podcast from Breakbeat Media, Suge said, “Putting him on a song and dissing Kendrick for everybody entertainment–that ain’t how it go.”

He added, “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.”

The post Tupac’s Estate Issues Cease-and-Desist Letter to Drake Over AI-Voice in “Taylor Made Freestyle” first appeared on The Source.

The post Tupac’s Estate Issues Cease-and-Desist Letter to Drake Over AI-Voice in “Taylor Made Freestyle” appeared first on The Source.

Tupac’s Estate Threatened To Sue Drake Over His Use Of The Late Rapper’s Voice In A Kendrick Lamar Diss

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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.”

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.

Suge Knight Says 2Pac’s Voice Next to Snoop’s on Drake’s Diss Track Isn’t a ‘Good Look’

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Suge Knight isn't a fan of Drake's "Taylor Made Freestyle" diss to Kendrick Lamar. Not because it attacked Lamar, but because it put 2Pac and Snoop's voices together on the song.

Suge Knight doesn’t like Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss to Kendrick Lamar. Not because it attacked Lamar, but because it put 2Pac and Snoop’s voices together on the song.

Speaking on his Collect Call with Suge Knight podcast from Breakbeat Media, Suge said, “Putting him on a song and dissing Kendrick for everybody entertainment–that ain’t how it go.”

He added, “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.”

Since Kendrick Lamar has not responded to “Push Ups,” Drake has gone back to back. Hitting Instagram, The 6ix God dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”

Upon pressing play, you will hear something you wouldn’t expect: Tupac’s voice.The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stand up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.

AI Tupac raps:
Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot
We need an undebated West Coast victory, man
Call him a bitch for me
Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me
Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true
They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive
In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you

AI Snoop added:
‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose
How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room
World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?

After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk:
The first one really only took me an hour or two
The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you
But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top
And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve

Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused
How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed
You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah
Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through

He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”

You can hear it below.

Snoop Dogg has offered his response to his voice being used in Drake’s diss song to Kendrick Lamar.

Hitting Instagram, Snoop said: “They did what? When? How? Are you sure? Y’all have a good night.”

Additionally, Snoop revealed his phone exploded once the song hit the net.

You can see Snoop’s response below.

The post Suge Knight Says 2Pac’s Voice Next to Snoop’s on Drake’s Diss Track Isn’t a ‘Good Look’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Suge Knight Says 2Pac’s Voice Next to Snoop’s on Drake’s Diss Track Isn’t a ‘Good Look’ appeared first on The Source.

Tupac’s Brother Reacts To Drake Went Too Far By Using AI Voice In His Kendrick Lamar Diss Track

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Tupac’s brother, Mopreme Shakur, reportedly gave his thoughts to TMZ Hip Hop about Drake using A.I. technology to replicate the West Coast legend’s voice on his Kendrick Lamar diss track, “Taylor Made Freestyle.” According to the publication, Mopreme thinks he went too far with this weaponization of ‘Pac’s voice for the sake of a rap battle. Apparently, he compared it to bringing a tank or dropping a nuclear bomb in a one-on-one battle, something that he thinks should stay a personal showdown with no external help. Mopreme also considered the context of this being rap beef (something that Tupac and other icons were no strangers to), acknowledging how the Toronto rapper just did this to get a rise out of K.Dot and his love for the “All Eyez On Me” MC.

Furthermore, Mopreme Shakur also commented on a point of retort that Drake fans have for people criticizing his use of A.I. technology here. OVO supporters called out Kendrick Lamar’s “conversation” with Tupac Shakur on “Mortal Man” off of To Pimp A Butterfly, which he constructed using old interview clips and re-contextualizing them with new questions from the former TDE MC. However, Mopreme actually co-signed this specific homage according to TMZ Hip Hop due to its presentation as a respectful tribute that touches on the themes that ‘Pac was actually passionate about in that interview. All that aside, he said that he’s got love for both MCs in this head-to-head, and for J. Cole as well. Mopreme wants them to stay focused on the sport, but to avoid incendiary moments like these and prevent violence from taking over.

Read More: Tupac’s Thug Life: Where Are They Now?

Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” Diss Against Kendrick Lamar Using A.I. Tupac & Snoop Dogg Voices: Listen

Of course, Mopreme Shakur said that he loves hearing his brother’s voice, but not in this combative and exploitative context. Still, according to TMZ Hip Hop, apparently Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” made him realize that this technology is “a hell of a tool.” But for younger generations specifically, Mopreme fears that they won’t be able to tell the difference between the real and fake ‘Pac. As for who’s “winning” this beef right now, he thinks they still have more in store, so he can’t call a victor just yet.

Meanwhile, what do you think about that last point, and about this A.I. situation as a whole? Did you catch what Snoop Dogg had to say about it after Drizzy used his A.I. voice, too? However you may feel, drop your thoughts down in the comments section below. Also, come back to HNHH for the latest on Mopreme and Tupac Shakur, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.

Read More: Tupac Was Extremely Close To Signing With Bad Boy Records According To His Brother

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The post Tupac’s Brother Reacts To Drake Went Too Far By Using AI Voice In His Kendrick Lamar Diss Track appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

DJ Akademiks Shares “Taylor Made Freestyle” Without 2Pac and Snoop AI Verses

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DJ Akademiks 9 22

Drake’s diss to Kendrick Lamar, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” was an AI treatment, evoking the voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg.

After the release, Akademiks shared what the song would sound like if Drake’s voice was present throughout. You can hear it below.

Since Kendrick Lamar has yet to respond to “Push Ups,” Drake has gone back to back. Hitting Instagram, The 6ix God dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”

Upon pressing play you will hear something that you wouldn’t expect, Tupac’s voice.The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stands up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.

AI Tupac raps:
Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot
We need an undebated West Coast victory, man
Call him a bitch for me
Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me
Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true
They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive
In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you

AI Snoop added:
‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose
How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room
World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?

After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk:
The first one really only took me an hour or two
The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you
But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top
And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve

Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused
How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed
You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah
Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through

He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”

You can hear it below.

The post DJ Akademiks Shares “Taylor Made Freestyle” Without 2Pac and Snoop AI Verses first appeared on The Source.

The post DJ Akademiks Shares “Taylor Made Freestyle” Without 2Pac and Snoop AI Verses appeared first on The Source.

Drake Trolls Kendrick Lamar With Another Diss Song Featuring An AI-Generated Verses From Tupac And Snoop Dogg

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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.

Drake Says He Wanted to Relax After Tour: ‘Now I Gotta Eat Until This Debate is Done’

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Drake Dreamville

Drake just wanted to chill. That’s all. In text to Akademiks, Drake revealed he just wanted to come off tour and relax but now he has to beef with the world, which he intends to win.

On a stream, AK read a text Drake sent him. “Ak, you know I was trying to come off tour and relax,” the blogger says the text reads. “”N–gas done f**ked up my whole feng shui. Now I gotta eat until this debate is done.”

Since Kendrick Lamar has yet to respond to “Push Ups,” Drake has gone back to back. Hitting Instagram, The 6ix God dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”

Upon pressing play you will hear something that you wouldn’t expect, Tupac’s voice.The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stands up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.

AI Tupac raps:
Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot
We need an undebated West Coast victory, man
Call him a bitch for me
Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me
Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true
They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive
In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you

AI Snoop added:
‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose
How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room
World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?

After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk:
The first one really only took me an hour or two
The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you
But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top
And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve

Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused
How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed
You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah
Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through

He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”

You can hear it below.

The post Drake Says He Wanted to Relax After Tour: ‘Now I Gotta Eat Until This Debate is Done’ first appeared on The Source.

The post Drake Says He Wanted to Relax After Tour: ‘Now I Gotta Eat Until This Debate is Done’ appeared first on The Source.

Drake Uses AI Verses from Tupac and Snoop Dogg to Diss Kendrick Lamar on “Taylor Made Freestyle”

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Young Thug Delivers "Oh U Went" Video Featuring Drake

Since Kendrick Lamar has yet to respond to “Push Ups,” Drake has gone back to back. Hitting Instagram, The 6ix God dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”

Upon pressing play you will hear something that you wouldn’t expect, Tupac’s voice.The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stands up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.

AI Tupac raps:
Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot
We need an undebated West Coast victory, man
Call him a bitch for me
Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me
Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true
They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive
In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you

AI Snoop added:
‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose
How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room
World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?

After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk:
The first one really only took me an hour or two
The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you
But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top
And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve

Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused
How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed
You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah
Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through

He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”

You can hear it below.

The post Drake Uses AI Verses from Tupac and Snoop Dogg to Diss Kendrick Lamar on “Taylor Made Freestyle” first appeared on The Source.

The post Drake Uses AI Verses from Tupac and Snoop Dogg to Diss Kendrick Lamar on “Taylor Made Freestyle” appeared first on The Source.

NLE Choppa Recreates A Classic Tupac Photo

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NLE Choppa is fresh off the release of his new song “SLUT ME OUT 2.” It’s a sequel to one of his biggest hits to date. The original “SLUT ME OUT” dropped last year and landed on his Cottonwood 2 project. The song spent 14 weeks on the Hot 100 and became his highest-peaking song ever when it hit number 28 on the chart. The track currently sits with over 320 streams on Spotify which lands it in his 5 most-streamed songs ever on the platform.

Last week he dropped “SLUT ME OUT 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to the original raunchy banger. It arguably dials up the intensity of the original track even more. It’s off to a strong start on streaming as well pushing towards nearly 2 million streams in less than a week. He took to Instagram to keep promoting the song and did it with a special bathtub photo shoot. In one particular picture, Choppa channels a famous Tupac photo. He lays in a bathtub covered by his own jewelry, though he also makes the addition of dozens of rubber ducks. It’s just one photo in a series of bathtub and shower shots he posted to promote the song. Check out the full set of pictures below.

Read More: NLE Choppa Breaks Silence On Alleged Disappearance

NLE Choppa Takes On An Iconic Tupac Look For “SLUT ME OUT 2” Promo

NLE Choppa wanted to thank one particular group of people for their support and backing of his new single. He made a tweet shouting out the LGBTQ+ community for their appreciation for the song. Though that caught him some negative attention from rap fans in his comments, he doubled down. He chastised one fan in particular for accusing him of being gay simply for thanking the community for their support.

What do you think of NLE Choppa recreating a famous Tupac photo to promote his new single with? Do you think he did a good job at capturing the appeal of the original picture? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: NLE Choppa Officially Converts To Islam

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