Sheryl Crow has publicly condemned Canadian rapper Drake for utilizing Artificial Intelligence to mimic the voice of the late Tupac Shakur in one of his songs.
Drake, known for his hit “Take Care,” ignited controversy and faced legal threats earlier this year after using AI to replicate Tupac’s voice on a track titled “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The song was eventually taken down following a cease-and-desist order from Tupac’s estate. However, Sheryl Crow has expressed her strong disapproval of Drake’s actions.
In an interview with the BBC, Crow stated, “You cannot bring people back from the dead and believe that they would stand for that. 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. It is antithetical to the life force that exists in all of us.”
Crow shared her personal experience with AI manipulation, recounting an incident where a producer replaced her vocals with a perfect imitation of John Mayer’s voice. She said, “I know John and I know the nuances of his voice. And there would be no way you’d have been able to tell that he was not singing that song.”
Concerned about the ethical implications of AI in music, Crow has been advocating for stricter laws regulating its use. She has also addressed the issue in her new track, “Evolution.”
Tupac Shakur was tragically murdered in September 1996 at the age of 25. In a significant development, police arrested Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis last September in connection with Tupac’s murder.
