Timbaland has issued an apology after facing backlash for using K Fresh‘s beat without approval to create an AI-generated remix through Suno.
On Friday (June 20) K Fresh demanded a public apology from the producer within 24-hours or face legal consequences.
The track was shared without credit, consent or compensation, igniting widespread criticism from artists and industry professionals.
Timbaland responded with a statement on social media, admitting he failed to verify the origin of the beat before using it in a demo.
“I’d like to formally apologize to KFresh. I should have done my due diligence before using it,” he wrote. “Regardless of the intent, I recognize that not everyone involved was aware or onboard, and I take full responsibility for that oversight.”
The controversy erupted after the super-producer uploaded a remix made with Suno, an AI music platform he advises, using a beat originally crafted by K Fresh.
“There was no credit. No consent. No apology,” K Fresh and his attorney Ryan Schmidt wrote in an open letter addressed to both Timbaland and Suno. “Instead, he used someone else’s work without permission.”
Timbaland clarified that the remix was not monetized or distributed commercially, and was intended to showcase creative possibilities with AI.
“I didn’t monetize it, release it, or try to claim ownership,” he said. “I was genuinely inspired and wanted to demonstrate what’s possible.”
Timbaland’s legal counsel, Tynia Coats, acknowledged the remix violated Suno’s terms of service but said it did not break the law.
“Just because something’s legal doesn’t mean it’s right,” she said. “The audio is no longer on Suno’s platform.”
Still, the damage may be done.
Part of K Fresh and his legal teams demand was that Timbaland provided proof that the beat has been removed from Suno’s training data, and a commitment to avoid using unlicensed music in future demos.
It’s unclear if the data is still part of Suno’s algorithm.
Timbaland’s involvement with Suno, an AI-powered music platform, has drawn scrutiny from artists concerned about how artificial intelligence may exploit creative work.
He also recently launched Stage Zero, a company focused on AI-generated music, and introduced a virtual artist named TaTa, which has drawn criticism for potentially sidelining human talent.
