American musician Sheryl Crow recently criticized Canadian rapper Drake for using an AI-generated voice of Tupac Shakur in a diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar. Crow, 62, expressed strong disapproval, stating to the BBC, "You cannot bring people back from the dead and believe that they would stand for that." She condemned Drake's approach of potentially seeking forgiveness later, highlighting the ethical concerns surrounding the use of deceased artists' voices, especially Tupac who passed away in 1996.
The controversy began when Tupac's estate threatened legal action against Drake for using AI to replicate Tupac's voice without permission. Attorney Howard King issued a cease and desist letter, demanding Drake remove the track within 24 hours to avoid legal repercussions. The estate criticized the AI recreation as a violation of Tupac's legacy and publicity rights, stating they would never have approved such usage.
Drake's track, initially released via social media rather than streaming platforms, attracted significant attention despite potential royalty losses. The estate's legal team expressed further dismay over the diss track targeting Kendrick Lamar, who is respected by Tupac's estate. They demanded transparency regarding the creation of the AI voice, alleging potential violations of California's publicity rights laws.
The incident underscores ongoing debates about the ethical boundaries of AI-generated content and the posthumous use of celebrities' likenesses in the music industry.
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