Last Friday, the Canadian superstar shared the Taylor Made Freestyle on his Instagram, featuring AI-generated impersonations of both Snoop Dogg and Tupac.
However, reports emerged on Wednesday stating that Tupac’s estate had issued a demand for Drake to remove the track within 24 hours.
Subsequently, the post containing the clip disappeared from Drake’s @Champagnepapi account on Thursday evening.
As of now, neither party has made any public statements following the removal of the track.
According to music magazine Billboard, Howard King, a lawyer representing Tupac’s estate, sent Drake a cease-and-desist letter on Tuesday.
The letter characterized the Taylor Made Freestyle as a “flagrant violation” of the law and an “abuse” of Tupac’s legacy.
Expressing dismay and disappointment, the letter warned of legal consequences if Drake failed to comply with the demand by the stipulated deadline.
Additionally, Mr. King highlighted Drake’s prior objection to having his voice replicated in the viral track Heart on My Sleeve, which also featured the voice of Canadian singer The Weeknd.
The late rapper's estate called the track an "abuse" of Tupac's legacy
The Taylor Made Freestyle marked the latest installment in an ongoing exchange of diss tracks between Drake and his rival Kendrick Lamar.
The AI-generated verses in the track, purportedly voiced by Tupac and Snoop Dogg, targeted the Pulitzer Prize-winning hip-hop artist, a contention reportedly echoed in the legal correspondence.
The letter characterized Kendrick as “a valued friend of the Estate, who has consistently shown respect for Tupac and his enduring legacy, both publicly and privately.”
In his own lyrical contribution, Drake made a reference to Taylor Swift, dubbing her as the “most influential figure in today’s music scene.”
He also revisited a line from his recent album, For All the Dogs, where he hinted at rescheduling his release to avoid a clash with the billionaire pop sensation.
Despite dropping his freestyle shortly after the release of her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, last week.
Tupac Shakur, known by his stage name 2Pac, remains an iconic figure in hip-hop history.
Having debuted in 1991, he sold over 75 million records worldwide and achieved chart-topping success with hits like California Love, All Eyez On Me, and Changes.
Tragically, he passed away in 1996 at the age of 25, following a fatal shooting in Las Vegas.
Duane “Keffe D” Davis, a former gang leader, has been charged with Shakur’s murder. In November, the 60-year-old entered a plea of not guilty to the accusation.
Efforts to reach out to Tupac’s estate lawyer, Mr. King, have been made by the BBC, and Drake’s representatives have been contacted for their response.