Well, apparently, the waiting period is over. Today (April 13), a four-minute song aimed at Lamar has seemingly leaked online. Many have questioned the song’s authenticity due to the rise of AI-generated music (especially using Drake’s likeness). Others believe it is not only accurate but also serves as a warning to Drake’s foes.
If you haven’t kept track of those folks, the record takes jabs at NAV, Rick Ross, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and, of course, Metro Boomin.
Read a few of the supposed bars directed at Kendrick Lamar below.
How the f*ck you big steppin’ with a size seven men’s on? / This the bark with the bite, n****, what’s up? / I know my picture on the wall when y’all cook up / Extortion baby, whole career you been shook up / ‘Cause Top told you drop and give me fifty like some push-ups, huh / Your last one bricked, you really not on sh*t / They make excuses for you, ’cause they hate to see me lit / Pull your contract, ’cause we gotta see the split / Ayy, the way you doin’ splits, b*tch, your pants might rip / You better do that motherf*ckin’ show inside the bitty / Maroon 5 need a verse, you better make it witty / Then we need a verse for the Swifties / Top say drop, you better drop and give ’em fifty / Pipsqueak, pipe down / You ain’t in no Big Three, SZA got you wiped down / Travis got you wiped down, Savage got you wiped down / Like your label, boy, you in a scope right now /And you gon’ feel the aftermath of what I write down / I’m at the top of the mountain, so you tight now / Just to have this talk with yo’ ass, I had to hike down.
AI has become a hot-button topic in creative communities and beyond since consumer-level tools have become widespread over the past few years. Some feel it could threaten the livelihoods of artists, and now some recognizable names have signed an open letter from Artist Rights Alliance that aims to curb or prevent irresponsible use of these technologies.
Those who signed include Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, Noah Kahan, Metro Boomin, Katy Perry, J Balvin, Zayn Malik, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, d4vd, Doechii, and Kacey Musgraves, among others.
The letter begins, “We, the undersigned members of the artist and songwriting communities, call on Al developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to cease the use of artificial intelligence (Al) to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.” It then considers both sides of the AI situation, saying, “Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, Al has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere. Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing Al to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians, and rightsholders.”
It goes on from there before concluding, “We call on all Al developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to pledge that they will not develop or deploy Al music-generation technology, content or tools that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists or deny us fair compensation for our work.”
Find the full letter and list of people who signed it below.
“We, the undersigned members of the artist and songwriting communities, call on Al developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to cease the use of artificial intelligence (Al) to infringe upon and devalue the rights of human artists.
Make no mistake: we believe that, when used responsibly, Al has enormous potential to advance human creativity and in a manner that enables the development and growth of new and exciting experiences for music fans everywhere.
Unfortunately, some platforms and developers are employing Al to sabotage creativity and undermine artists, songwriters, musicians, and rightsholders.
When used irresponsibly, Al poses enormous threats to our ability to protect our privacy, our identities, our music and our livelihoods. Some of the biggest and most powerful companies are, without permission, using our work to train Al models. These efforts are directly aimed at replacing the work of human artists with massive quantities of Al-created ‘sounds’ and ‘images’ that substantially dilute the royalty pools that are paid out to artists. For many working musicians, artists, and songwriters who are just trying to make ends meet, this would be catastrophic.
Unchecked, Al will set in motion a race to the bottom that will degrade the value of our work and prevent us from being fairly compensated for it.
This assault on human creativity must be stopped. We must protect against the predatory use of Al to steal professional artists’ voices and likenesses, violate creators’ rights, and destroy the music ecosystem.
We call on all Al developers, technology companies, platforms and digital music services to pledge that they will not develop or deploy Al music-generation technology, content, or tools that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists or deny us fair compensation for our work.”
Agus Martino
Aimee Mann
Ali McGuirk
Alice Randall
Alisa Amador
António Zambujo
Arkells
Ashley Shabankareh
Astrid
Astronomía Interior
Aya
Avra Starr
Banda Carnaval
Banda El Recodo de Don
Cruz Lizárraga
Banda Los Recoditos
BENEE
Benny the Butcher
Bia Marques
Bianca
Big Up
Billie Eilish
Billy Porter
Black Spygo
estate of Bob Marley
Brandi Waller-Pace
Brian Folkins-Amador
Brothers Osborne
Bruno Ramos
Bryan Behr
Brvan Martinez
Budah
Buddy Miller
CAKE
Calema
Calibre 50
Callie Khouri
Caloncho
Calum Scott
Cami
Camila Cabello
Canals
Carlão
Carol Biazin
Carolina Deslandes
Cedella Marley
Cedric Singleton
Chappell Roan
Chase & Status
Chega mais pra Cristo
Chelsea Cutler
Chesca
Chuck D
Ciph Boogie
Clotilde Rullaud
Coey Redd
Colin Linden
Crys Matthews
Czarface d4vd
Dan Ferrera
Dan Knobler
Dan Navarro
Dan Smith
Daniel Martin Moore
Daniel Quién
Daniela Spalla
Danna Paola
Darius Rucker
Dave East
David Lowery
Declan Sheehy-Moss
Delacey
Diana Krall
Diogo Piçarra
Doce Encontro
Doechii
Don Was
Dylan LeBlanc
East Forest
Ela Taubert
Eli Soares
Elvis Costello
Em Beihold
Emiliano Fernández
Emily Scott Robinson
Engelbert Humperdinck
Enkay47
Erin McKeown
Espinoza Paz
Felipe Araújo
Fernando Daniel
FINNEAS
FLETCHER
estate of Frank Sinatra
Gavin Gray
Gonzy
Greta Van Fleet
Gretchen Peters
Grupo CANAVERAL
Grupo Recluta
Hit-Boy
Hugo & Vitor
HYBE
IMAFE Music
Imagine Dragons
Ivan Barias
Iván Conejo
J Balvin
JGonz
Ja Rule
Jacinto
Jadakiss
Jamie Cullum
Jana Herzen
Jannek Zechner
Jason shell
Jason Lindner
Javy Hustle
Jean Rohe
Jeremy Zucker
Jess Glynne
Jim Jones
Joaquina
John Paul White
Jon Batiste
Jon Bon Jovi
Jonas Brothers
Jonathan Taplin
Jordan Rakei
Juan Marcus & Vinicius
Juan Pablo Contreras
Juanes
Julia Michaels
Kacey Musgraves
Kaio Viana
Kart Love
Kate Hudson
Katy Perry
Kevin Aguilar
Kid Pistola
Kim Petras
La Arrolladora
Banda El Limón de
René Camacho
Lasso
Lauana Prado
Laura Burhenn
Laura Veirs
Lee Lewis
Lera Lynn
Lola Indigo
Lola Young
Lou Garcia
Loudon Wainwright Ill
Lua Lacruz
Luciano Perevra
Luis Fonsi
Luz Casal
Lynne Hanson
Mac DeMarco
Maggie Vail
Maneva
Manuel Carrasco
Mari.ana
Marc Cohn
Marcus King
Marian Hill
Marisa Liz
Mark Erelli
Mary Gauthier
estate of Mary Wilson
Matheus
Matthew Montfort
Maxx Kreative
Mayra
Mel Granda
Merca Xin Corte
Mergui
Metro Boomin
Mia Salinas
Michael Penn
Michelle Branch
Mikael Eldridge
Miko Marks
Miranda Lambert
Mumford & Sons
Mumuzinho
Nanno
Natalie Jean
Nesk Only
Nick Howard
Nicki Minaj
Noah Kahan
Norah Jones
Olivia Wald
Onev1
Dr. Otis Williams
Patrick Carney
Pearl Jam
Pedro Abrunhosa
Peter Case
Peter Frampton
Planta
Q-Tip
Raphael
Regis Danese
Reins
R.E.M.
Remi Wolf
Rhett Miller
Robert Finkelstein
Robert Smith
Rodney Crowell
Ron Pope
Rosanne Cash
Rosi Amador
Rui Massena
Ryan Tedder
Sam Smith
SER
Sérgio Godinho
Sherlyn Sánchez
Sheryl Crow
Sigrid
Simone Mendes
Smokey Robinson
Stevland Morris agrees on behalf of himself and Stevie Wonder
T Bone Burnett
T-Rex
Taylor Díaz
Tech N9ne
The Last Dinner Party
Tift Merritt
Tina Sinatra
Traci Thomas
Trucha
Valentina Fernandez
Vivir Quintana
WD
Will Linley
Windser
Yard Act
Yo Gambii
Zayn Malik
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Fake nude images of Angel Reese hit the web on Tuesday (March 19) as a result of AI. With the pictures being passed around, Reese hit X to address the images.
“Creating fake AI pictures of me is crazy and weird AF!” she tweeted. “Like I know I’m fine & seem to have an appeal to some but I’m literally 21 and yall doing this bs when I would neverrrrrr.”
Reese also addressed the images in the video below.
Since Chat GPT dropped, conversations about the role AI will play in our lives have left people feeling uneasy about the rise of machines. Of course, people in tech know that we’ve had some form of AI in our devices for years now (and for the most part, we’ve loved it). It’s a broad conversation that deserves plenty of nuance, but regardless of where you stand, one thing is for certain: AI isn’t going anywhere. It’s only going to get bigger, smarter, and more intertwined with our day-to-day lives.
Will.i.am, who has long been highly regarded as a futurist, knows as much. Never one to be afraid of “what’s next,” he’s giving AI a major responsibility — co-hosting his new show.
Will.i.am Presents The FYI Showwill drop on SiriusXM on January 25th. Episodes will focus on creators, innovators, and the future that people on the cutting edge are dreaming up for all of us to live in. And an AI by the name of Qd.pi. (“Cutie Pie”) will be at his side. Or… in his ear. Or… on his server.
Here’s a preview:
Will.i.am explained the concept to The Hollywood Reporter: “I didn’t want to just do a traditional show, I wanted to bring tomorrow close to today, and so I wanted to have my co-host be an AI… I’m ultra-freaking colorful and expressive. [Qd.pi is] ultra-freaking factual and analytical. And that combination, we ain’t seen in the history of freaking broadcasts anywhere.”
It’s hard to argue when Will.i.am has built an entire groundbreaking and influential career out of looking forward. Though, Qd.pi itself seems open to a bit of skepticism about the experiment. In an exclusive excerpt from The FYI Show‘s first episode, Qd.pi has this to say about the most important thing people need to know about AI right now:
AI is powerful but it’s not perfect. It can make mistakes and it’s important to be aware of that and to fact-check the information it provides. AI can be used for good and for bad so it’s crucial to use it responsibly and ethically. As AI gets more sophisticated it’s likely to have a bigger impact on our lives. From the way we work to the way we communicate and consume information. it’s important for people to stay informed and educated about AI and its potential impacts so that we can make the most of its benefits while also being mindful of its risks. Overall, it’s an exciting time for AI and technology but it’s also a time to approach these advancements with a healthy dose of caution and critical thinking.
Over the last few weeks, streaming giant Spotify has been a trending topic, but it hasn’t all been positive chatter; The company’s latest round of layoffs was accompanied by news of artists like Snoop Dogg and “Weird” Al calling them out over its payout rates
However, users flooding their social media timelines with the Wrapped results have somewhat helped offset the negative remarks. The platform is focusing on user excitement by rolling out yet another feature: AI playlists.
What is Spotify’s AI playlist feature?
Similar to the AI DJ function, which rolled out in February, the AI playlist feature allows users to generate a collection of songs using prompts.
Spotify has several curated playlists based on genre, artists, decade, release date, charting history, and even modes. However, the AI playlist feature allows users to think far beyond what already exists. According to TechCrunch, users must select the AI chatbot to get started to access the add-on. Users can let their imagination fly once the box takes over the screen. Prompt ideas mentioned presented by the outlet as an example were “get focused at work with instrumental electronica,” “fill in the silence with background café music,” “get pumped up with fun, upbeat, and positive songs,” and “explore a niche genre like Witch House.”
The feature has not yet gotten a wide release, and it’s not clear when (or if) it will. A spokesperson told TechCrunch, “We routinely conduct a number of tests. Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader experience and others serve only as an important learning. We don’t have anything further to share at this time.”
One wonders sometimes how 50 Cent keeps up with all of his feuds (seriously, finish reading this, then Google “Uproxx 50 Cent trolls” to see just how often we have had to write those exact words). He’s currently juggling a few, but in recent months, he’s put Ja Rule and Rick Ross on the backburner to focus pretty heavily on rival mogul Diddy.
Most recently, he again invoked Tupac, this time with a bizarre AI photo of himself hanging out in the studio with the deceased rapper. In the caption, he wrote: “Karma is a mother fvcker brother love, brother love, brother love,” — a reference to Diddy’s 2017 announcement he was again changing his name to “Brother Love.” While that didn’t pan out, of course 50 Cent, who’s got the memory of an elephant, would recall it and use it against him. While the trip to the uncanny valley probably wasn’t completely necessary, it shows just how hard he works on his beef.
Nicki Minaj is less than one day away from finally dropping Pink Friday 2, her first full-length album since 2018’s Queen. On Wednesday night, December 6, Minaj amped up the already-fervent anticipation by using her “Barb Alert System” to warn the Barbz that they are quickly “approaching Gag City.”
“As we begin to prepare for landing, please make sure your tray tables are put back up & your seat belts are tightly fastened,” Minaj wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) earlier in the day. “The captain has activated the ‘no bathroom’ sign. If you look out the window, you’ll begin to see the beauty…clear waters, pink dolphins…#GagCity #PF2.”
As we begin to prepare for landing, please make sure your tray tables are put back up & your seat belts are tightly fastened. The captain has activated the “no bathroom” sign. If you look out the window, you’ll begin to see the beauty…clear waters, pink dolphins…#GagCity#PF2
Well, that sounds lovely. Wait, PINK DOLPHINS?! What (and where) in the world is Gag City?
According to various outlets — such as Know Your Meme, Reddit, and The Mirror — Barbz created Gag City using AI based on the Pink Friday 2 cover art Minaj shared in early September. On the first of two album covers, Minaj appears angelic while standing on what could be described as a subway platform floating above pink clouds. Everything is pink, except for Minaj’s white outfit.
“Her fans, lovingly called the Barbz, decided that the city below her on the album cover was named Gag City, a play on the word ‘gagged,’ which can be used to describe something, usually a celebrity, as amazing or stunning,” The Mirror explained. “After Gag City was named, fans were left wondering what the city could possibly look like, so they turned to AI.”
This morning, December 7, Power 105. 1 posted that it “is the official radio station of #GAGCity” alongside an AI-generated, pink-tinged photo of a boombox turned to the station. Republic Records posted the Statue Of Liberty wearing a pink wig. All over the internet, people continue to post their visions for Gag City ahead of Pink Friday 2‘s arrival at midnight ET (December 8), which is also Minaj’s birthday. See some below.
AI tools are relatively new when it comes to being widely accessible on a consumer level. Despite that, a lot of them are already pretty dang good. In terms of impersonation via audio or video, AI tools are producing some convincing results, and here we have a case where they’re not being used for good at the expense of Cardi B.
An online ad for an entity called USA Wellness Wave (about which there appears to be virtually no information online) features an AI-generated voiceover that bears more than a passing resemblance to Cardi, although some of the vocal rhythms and other nuances give away that it’s not the real deal. The video uses unrelated videos of Cardi speaking to give the impression that it’s actually her talking, and the voiceover promotes a supposed “stimulus-style program” that promises free and easy money to applicants.
AI is crazy smh….another lawsuit that fell right on my lap…I love easy money https://t.co/nMqFQpqHAv
The clip was shared on Twitter recently and Cardi caught wind of it today. It would seem she’s not a fan, as she re-posted it and wrote, “AI is crazy smh….another lawsuit that fell right on my lap…I love easy money.”
In the ever-evolving world of music, technology continues to push boundaries and redefine what’s possible. YouTube, a platform known for its transformative impact on the music industry, has once again stepped up its game. Imagine having the power to sound like your favorite hip-hop artist, even if you’re not a professional rapper or singer. Well, YouTube has made that a reality with its groundbreaking AI tool that’s turning dreams into reality.
YouTube has always been a place where aspiring artists could showcase their talents and gain recognition. However, the platform recognized a gap that needed filling – the desire to emulate the style and sound of established artists. This is where YouTube’s innovative AI tool comes into play.
With the help of cutting-edge machine learning and AI technology, YouTube has developed an algorithm that can analyze and replicate the vocal style of popular hip-hop artists. The result? Anyone with a microphone and a passion for hip-hop can now taste what it’s like to spit rhymes like their favorite stars.
This remarkable innovation’s core is a complex neural network that processes audio data. By feeding it enough reference material from the chosen artist, the AI tool learns and extracts their unique vocal characteristics, including tone, flow, and style. It’s like having an AI mentor who guides you through the art of rapping or singing in the shoes of your hip-hop hero.
This neural network has been trained on many songs, interviews, and live performances, making it incredibly versatile. Whether you’re trying to mimic the gritty storytelling of Nas, the rapid-fire delivery of Eminem, or the melodic flow of Drake, the AI tool’s got you covered.
YouTube’s AI tool isn’t just a fun gimmick; it’s a game-changer for budding artists and hip-hop fans. Here’s how it’s transforming the creative landscape:
Unleashing Creativity: Aspiring artists no longer need to worry about developing their own unique style from scratch. This tool provides a solid foundation to build upon and develop their voice while paying homage to the artists who inspired them.
Educational Tool: It’s an invaluable resource for music students and enthusiasts looking to dissect the vocal intricacies of hip-hop legends. You can now gain a deeper understanding of what makes your favorite artists stand out.
Empowering Fans: For hip-hop fans, this tool offers a way to pay homage to their idols in a whole new way. Imagine creating your custom mixtape where you take on the role of a legendary hip-hop artist – it’s a fan’s dream come true.
While YouTube’s AI tool opens up a world of possibilities, it also raises ethical questions. Critics argue that this tool could be seen as a shortcut, undermining the hard work and authenticity of artists who’ve devoted years to mastering their craft. It’s essential to remember that while the tool can replicate style, it can’t replace the real-life experiences, stories, and struggles that shape an artist’s music.
YouTube’s AI tool that allows people to sound like popular hip-hop artists is a remarkable step forward in the intersection of technology and music. It’s an exciting development for aspiring artists and fans who have ever dreamt of stepping into the shoes of their favorite hip-hop icons.
As with any technological advancement, there are ethical considerations to keep in mind. However, the ability to use this tool as a learning resource and a means to pay tribute to legendary artists offers a unique and exciting opportunity for the hip-hop community. It remains to be seen how this AI tool will shape the future of music, but one thing is certain: it’s a game-changer in the ever-evolving world of hip-hop. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of rhyming like your favorite hip-hop star, YouTube’s AI tool might just be the magic wand you’ve been waiting for.
Getty Image/Capitol Records/gstudioimagen on Freepik/Derrick Rossignol
The Recording Academy is making a grave mistake in allowing the AI-performed song “Heart On My Sleeve” to remain Grammy eligible. The song was apparently submitted for Grammy consideration by its “creator,” an anonymous social media user calling themselves Ghostwriter977. According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., “I knew right away as soon as I heard that record that it was going to be something that we had to grapple with from an Academy standpoint, but also from a music community and industry standpoint.”
“When you start seeing A.I. involved in something so creative and so cool, relevant and of-the-moment,” he continued. “It immediately starts you thinking, ‘OK, where is this going? How is this going to affect creativity? What’s the business implication for monetization?’”
And herein lies the error in that thinking: Because in nearly every instance in which the implications of new technology have been “considered,” rarely has the potential harm given tech cheerleaders enough pause to prevent legitimate disaster. In the just the past three years, we saw election tampering through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter (Nazis!), the collapse of the NFT/cryptocurrency bubble, and housing and transportation crises exacerbated by apps like Airbnb, Lyft, and Uber (to say nothing of the exploitation and abuses inherent to the workings of apps like these or the massive delivery infrastructure of Amazon).
But let’s just stick to how tech has impacted the music industry for now. Last year around this time, I wrote that the virtual rapper FN Meka, which was allegedly created through AI and voiced by a human performer, presaged an incoming industry push to make performers and writers alike obsolete. I hate to say “I told you so,” but it’s beginning to look like the next phase of that push is peeking over the horizon. While “Heart On My Sleeve” is unlikely to earn a nomination — there’s little about it that’s truly innovative aside from its use of a burgeoning technology that many of us only barely understand — legitimizing it will undoubtedly inspire future imitators.
With listeners’ attention spans already stretched to the limit by a near constant deluge of new content from artists who themselves can barely keep up with demand in the struggle to remain relevant, how are any of us going to contend with robots that can churn out as many new songs as quickly as prompts are written? Computers don’t need to take vacations — and let’s be honest here, they don’t need any inspiration or real-life experiences, either. They can just trawl our tweets (posts, TikToks, whatever) and “create” songs algorithmically programmed to crawl inside our brains and get stuck there, tickling our cortexes with mathematical precision.
Now, as Mr. Mason points out (perhaps inadvertently), this won’t be a problem for anyone on the business side of the equation. A sleepless machine churning out an endless stream of content is a perfect money generator in the streaming economy. The labels will, of course, see infinite profits in investing in these technologies, because we’ve seen CEOs pull out the same playbook in industries like auto manufacturing, construction, and even now, in the ongoing struggle between the movie and television studios and their writers and actors. They’ll drive profits by cutting overhead — meaning labor — trying to squeeze blood from stones.
We see the problems with this approach, even if the CEOs never seem to. Elon Musk thought he could run Twitter (I am NEVER calling it “X”) with a skeleton crew of devoted loyalists; the site barely runs, and this plan has been executed with all the forethought and thoroughness of a game of Calvinball. Label heads might see AI music as a great investment initially, but as they realize that entire departments become superfluous as a result, they’ll cut those jobs too — right up until they’re being asked to perform basic administrative duties by themselves, with no idea how exactly to manage the “artists” whose inner workings they have only a baseline understanding of.
If this seems like catastrophizing or slippery slope rationalizing, just look at every other time a new technology has rumbled the foundations of the music industry. When .mp3s came along, there was mass panic until the innovation of the 360-degree deal — a proposition that took more wealth out of artists’ pockets and sent it up the pyramid to the shareholders and CEOs. As Spotify became the default source for fans to enjoy the music they love, labels not only worked out favorable deals to ensure they got the bulk of the revenue, but also bought parts of the platform itself to get paid both ways. And as TikTok became the music discovery watering hole of the digital age, labels swooped in to monetize that too.
All of this came at the expense of the artists who actually create the product that drives the profits. How many artists have complained in the past two years that they’ve been pushed to “go viral on TikTok” instead of making music (the answer: a lot)? How many stories have we seen about artists losing money as their slices of streaming get thinner and thinner? And that’s not to mention the peripheral industries, the managers, the lawyers, the promoters, the touring bookers, and the venues, all losing out as the streaming space gets more and more crowded with viral one-hit wonders and wannabe superstars whose attentions are being pulled in a thousand different directions — sync licensing, sponsorship seeking, merchandising, and social media management/monetization — just so they can make rent.
Imagine that this is all a house of cards built on one shaky foundation: human creators relating human experiences to human listeners. Streaming and social media have already sent tremors through this foundation by gaming algorithms and creating overnight stars with few credentials and even less credibility. But adding AI to the equation just might kick that foundation out entirely, taking the entire industry with it. And it all starts with seemingly insignificant moves like considering AI songs for awards that committees already rarely get “right” in the eyes of fans.
Legitimizing work like Ghostwriter977’s — whether they truly wrote the song or not — wouldn’t just hurt the artists it imitates, although Universal Music Group was quick to issue a takedown request for “Heart On My Sleeve,” since it would clearly violate likeness rights in a sane society. It would also hurt practically every other artist in the industry, devaluing their work for what’s basically a novelty. Then, like dominos, dozens of peripheral industries could fall, until the only thing left is the AI. Then, when the bubble inevitably bursts, all that’ll be left is deafening silence.
(@shesthat4oreign) 
