Over the weekend, rap star Drake doubled down on his diss track entitled “Push Ups.” He dropped an additional diss track entitled “Taylor Made.” The previous song aimed at several other rappers who have thrown shade at the Canadian-born superstar. Future and Rick Ross, just to name a few.
But the new song had an interesting twist. It featured A.I.-generated verses from legendary West Coast rappers Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur.
Drake in Hot Water Over New Song
The A.I.-generated verses from Snoop and Tupac were an obvious shot at Lamar. They are two California icons that Kendrick had referenced as his inspiration several times. But trolling could come at a hefty cost for Drake. According to a new report, Tupac’s estate is considering slapping the Canadian-born rapper.
“Tupac Shakur’s estate is threatening to sue Drake over a recent diss track against Kendrick Lamar that featured an AI-generated version of the late rapper’s voice, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the law and a “blatant abuse” of his legacy,” a statement from the late rapper’s estate reads.
“In a Wednesday cease-and-desist letter obtained exclusively by Billboard, litigator Howard King told Drake (Aubrey Drake Graham) 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.”
Tupac’s Estate ‘Dismayed’ By New Song
On the track, Tupac raps lyrics curated by the Grammy winner imploring him to hit back at the jabs in his previously released songs. And while Drake may have been doing it purely for sport, Tupac’s estate says they are “dismayed” by his actions.
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” the statement adds. “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.”
While no legal action has been made official it appears that Drake could be in hot water. It will be interesting to see how he responds.