Sheryl Crow, a music legend with a career spanning decades, has publicly criticized Drake for using artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate the voice of Tupac Shakur in a diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar. This incident has reignited the debate on the use of AI in music, with Crow expressing strong reservations about the technology.

Sheryl Crow Calls Out Drake’s “Hateful” Use of AI

According to Variety, Crow spoke out about the use of AI to resurrect the voices of deceased artists. She specifically targeted Drake’s song “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which featured AI-generated vocals resembling Tupac Shakur, in his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar.

Sheryl Crow vehemently opposed this tactic, stating that it’s disrespectful to bring back deceased artists and assume they would approve of such a use of their voice. She further commented that Drake likely knew it was wrong but assumed he could apologize later. However, the damage is already done, and the song, even if removed, could still be found by fans.

Crow went a step further, describing the use of AI-generated Tupac vocals as “hateful” and “against the very essence of life that flows through music.” This statement highlights her belief that music is a raw and personal expression, and replicating it artificially goes against the spirit of the art form.

Tupac’s Estate Takes Legal Action

News reports from Variety confirm that Tupac Shakur’s estate responded swiftly to Drake’s use of AI to mimic his voice. Howard King, the estate’s legal representative, expressed their deep disappointment with Drake, calling his actions a “blatant violation” of Tupac’s image rights and “an abuse of his legacy.”

King emphasized that Tupac’s estate would never have authorized such a use of his voice. Following this legal action, the diss track was taken down from online platforms.

Sheryl Crow’s Concerns About AI in Music

Crow’s criticism extends beyond this specific incident. Variety reports that during an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” she expressed her general unease about the potential of AI in music.

She shared a personal anecdote where a young songwriter used AI to create vocals resembling John Mayer’s voice for a demo. Crow, who participated in the session, was astonished by the realism of the AI, stating it was impossible to tell the difference from Mayer’s actual voice. This experience left her feeling “scared” about the potential for AI to create near-perfect replicas of artists’ voices.

However, Crow offered a glimmer of hope during her BBC interview. She acknowledged AI’s capabilities, but emphasized that it cannot replace the experience of live music or the personal touch of a human artist. As long as there are live performances and artists creating original work, Crow believes the soul of music will remain intact.

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