Sheryl Crow joins the Drake pile-on, calls out ‘hateful’ use of AI-generated Tupac vocals

Drake’s list of enemies and detractors continues to grow in the wake of his bitter feud with Kendrick Lamar.

Less than a week after Lamar’s star-studded “Pop Out” concert last week — an event dubbed “Hatechella” on social media, during which the Compton rapper performed his chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us” five times, surrounded by hip-hop artists and star athletes (including Drake’s friend and former Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan) — another high profile artist has taken a shot at the self-proclaimed 6 God.

In an interview with the BBC about the rise of artificial intelligence in the music industry, Sheryl Crow called out Drake for his song “Taylor Made Freestyle,” a Lamar diss track that used AI-generated voices of legendary West Coast rappers Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg.

“You cannot bring people back from the dead and believe that they would stand for that,” said singer-songwriter Crow, whose new album includes a song that explores the impact of AI on humans and the planet. “I’m sure Drake thought, ‘Yeah, I shouldn’t do it, but I’ll say sorry later.’ But it’s already done, and people will find it even if he takes it down.”

“It’s hateful,” she continued. “It is antithetical to the life force that exists in all of us.”

Drake released “Taylor Made Freestyle” — his second Lamar diss track — on April 19. His decision to recreate the voice of the late Tupac Shakur generated immediate controversy. Just days after its release, Shakur’s estate sent Drake a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that he pull the track off streaming within 24 hours. Drake quickly obliged.

Lamar referenced the controversy in his subsequent track “Not Like Us.” “You think the Bay gon’ let you disrespect Pac?” Lamar raps. “I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop.”

Earlier this week, a group of major record companies, including Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Records, announced that they are suing artificial intelligence song-generators Suno and Udio for copyright infringement, alleging that the AI music startups are exploiting the recorded works of artists.

In March, Tennessee became the first U.S. state to pass legislation to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Supporters said the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist’s voice without their consent.

The following month, over 200 artists, including Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj and Stevie Wonder, signed an open letter submitted by the Artist Rights Alliance non-profit calling on artificial intelligence tech companies, developers, platforms, digital music services and platforms to stop using AI to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.

Last November, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry on attitudes toward Artificial Intelligence released a study that found that the vast majority of Canadians (85 per cent) believe that human artists are essential to the creation of music.

The study also found that 79 per cent of Canadians think an artist’s music or vocals should not be used or ingested by AI without permission.

Crow told the BBC that she was moved to take a stand against AI in music after hearing a song that included an AI-generated clone of John Mayer’s voice. She said she was “terrified” and “literally hyperventilating.”

“I know John and I know the nuances of his voice,” she explained. “And there would be no way you’d have been able to tell that he was not singing that song.”

With files from the Associated Press

Correction – June 27, 2024

This story has been updated. A previous version incorrectly identified the name of Drake’s song “Taylor Made Freestyle.”