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Considering the horrible conflict happening across the globe, it's practically a welcome respite that we can bond over some good, old-fashioned rap beef. Over the past few days, the internet has gotten sucked into the ongoing, increasingly inflammatory verbal battle between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar. We don’t have the time to explain and dissect what caused this beef, why it continues to escalate, and whose personal life is sketchier. However, as a tech publication, we can confidently say this: Whoever you think is winning, the real loser is AI-based rap.
AI Is Not Like Us
Drake and Kendrick have been penning diss track after diss track about each other. By the time this story is published, there will probably be multiple new songs to analyze. But specifically, we should dissect Drake's “Taylor Made Freestyle,” released on April 19. It features vocals performed by Drake, along with AI-generated verses “performed” by Snoop Dogg. That’s pretty bad, but you could maybe give Drake the benefit of the doubt if he got Snoop’s permission.
What’s truly unforgivable, though, is that “Taylor Made Freestyle” also has a verse performed by an AI version of the late, great Tupac Shakur. Drake did not get permission for this ghoulish resurrection. After Shakur’s estate sent a cease-and-desist for likeness rights violation, Drake yanked the song. But the damage was done. Using AI to exploit one of hip-hop’s most beloved and poetic martyrs to make yourself look better in petty beef is exactly the kind of soulless, artless, classless, fame-seeking move that Drake’s biggest critics hate him for. It’s especially hypocritical considering Drake has been exploited by AI.
After this, Pulitzer Prize-winner Kendrick Lamar wasted zero time proving why he’s the greatest Drake hater, dropping instant-classic diss tracks “Euphoria,” “Meet the Grahams,” and “Not Like Us” within days of each other, with maybe more on the way. If social media reaction is any proof, Kendrick has won the war.
Of course, Drake struck back. In “Family Matters,” he claims he only got in trouble over his use of faux Tupac because Kendrick whined to the estate. However, the narrative isn’t in Drake’s favor. For years, Drake has complained that hip-hop culture unfairly treats him like an outsider and that he's achieved his great success despite industry gatekeepers. Perhaps there's some merit to this (after all, only Drake could put Fortnite on the map). But his appropriative AI thievery goes against the core hip-hop creeds those gatekeepers exist to protect. He didn't steal lyrics, he stole voices. He's not sampling, he's biting.
AI Gets Ethered
From fake Tupac vocals to nonsense ChatGPT writing to hideous images, the message is simple: If you use AI in your art, you lose. Drake is just the latest model of this in rap, but there are other examples.
Late last year, Nicki Minaj encouraged fans to generate ugly AI pictures as album art for Pink Friday 2. Soon after, Nicki had beef with Megan Thee Stallion and quickly generated obvious AI art for her sloppy diss track "Bigfoot." Guess what? It made Nicki come off as the unhinged loser.
In fairness, not even Kendrick Lamar is immune. A few years ago, the rapper released his video for “The Heart Part 5,” which featured AI deepfakes of Kobe Bryant, OJ Simpson, Will Smith, and other celebrities. You could argue Kendrick’s technology use here is much more artistic than replicating famous emcees—in the video, he transforms into those other men when he feels he shares their pain. Still, it goes to show that he isn't above using AI in his work.
Generative AI is rapidly becoming a huge issue in all creative fields. Artists, journalists, and people from all walks of life must hold the line to remind their bosses that bots are no replacement for human work. In April, more than 200 musicians (including Nicki Minaj!) signed an open letter fighting against the “predatory use of AI” in their industry. No one wants to live in a world where hip-hop is nothing but bad, zombie Tupac songs or evil SpongeBob raps.
No matter the outcome, the Drake vs. Kendrick beef will go down in history. It’ll be remembered as a hip-hop clash on par with Jay-Z vs. Nas. Future rappers will study it as a lesson on what to do and what not to do. Maybe they'll pull a J. Cole and gracefully bow out and apologize. But in 2024, the best lesson for all of us, not just famous rappers, is that AI doesn't compare with true creativity.
For more on music (including catching up on this beef), check out our picks for the best online music streaming services.