Recently, the estate of the renowned American hip-hop icon, 2Pac, has issued a warning of a potential lawsuit against Canadian rapper Drake. This threat stems from a diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar, where an artificially intelligent version of 2Pac’s voice was featured.
In a cease-and-desist letter sent on Wednesday, lawyer Howard King demanded that Drake remove the offending track within 24 hours. Failure to comply would result in the estate pursuing all available legal options against the rapper.
The letter expressed strong objections to the unauthorized use of 2Pac’s voice, describing it as a violation of both the late rapper’s publicity rights and the estate’s legal protections. It condemned the disrespect shown towards one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history.
Furthermore, the estate highlighted the additional offense caused by using 2Pac’s voice in a disparaging manner towards Kendrick Lamar, someone who has consistently shown respect for 2Pac and his legacy.
Drake’s release of ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’ featured artificial intelligence-generated replicas of not only 2Pac but also Snoop Dogg’s voices. The estate clarified that such usage would never have been approved if Drake had sought permission beforehand.