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Lupe Fiasco And Google Encourage Rappers To Incorporate AI Into Their Music With TextFX, A New Tool

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In addition to being a rapper and producer, Lupe Fiasco is also a teacher. Last year, he taught a rap course at MIT and broke down lyrics by iconic hip-hop artists. Now, he’s joined the discussion about how AI will play a role in the genre.

The “Superstar” performer has teamed up with Google for an AI tool called TextFX that aids “the writing process of creating raps.” In a Google Lab Sessions video, Fiasco explains, “Rap is born out of technology. Rap wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for these technological advancements.” He lists examples, such as a DJ’s turntable, microphones, recording studios, Auto-Tune, and more. “What’s next?” he says. “Artificial Intelligence, large language models — rap’s optimal for it.”

A Creative Technologist at Google named Aaron Wade steps in and explains the tool, which actually is a large language model. “Initially, we thought that maybe Lupe would want an AI system to write lyrics for him, verses, and raps,” he said. “But it turns out that he didn’t want that at all. What he wanted was a tool that helped him explore the universe of possibilities that can arise from any given word, or phrase, or concept.”

Watch Fiasco’s full Google Lab Session above and check out TextFX here.

Lil Wayne Isn’t Afraid Of AI Replicating Him Or His Music Because He Is ‘Naturally, Organically Amazing’

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Lil Wayne “is still the greatest rapper alive,” according to Flo Milli, and Wayne isn’t particularly worried about his status on rap’s Mount Rushmore changing in the wake of AI.

On Wednesday (August 2), Wayne was revealed as the cover star of Billboard‘s annual “R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players” issue. This year, it’s doubling as a celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.

Within the accompanying cover story, Gail Mitchell asked Wayne for his opinion “on artificial intelligence and its potential effect on creativity.”

Wayne coolly replied, “Someone asked me about that recently. And they were trying to tell me that AI could make a voice that sounds just like me. But it’s not me, because I’m amazing. I’m like, is this AI thing going to be amazing too? Because I am naturally, organically amazing. I’m one of a kind. So actually, I would love to see that thing try to duplicate this motherf*cker.”

This week also marked the premiere of Mixtape on Paramount Plus, and Wayne is among many pioneers featured in the documentary. Back with Billboard and Mitchell, Wayne shared his thoughts on the perception of mixtapes in a post-AI music landscape.

“The terminology or definition has changed, that’s all,” he said. “Mixtapes can mean an album mix or anything now. But when it comes to Lil Wayne, everybody knows how I approach mixtapes. So my mixtapes won’t ever change.”

See more from Wayne’s Billboard cover shoot below.

6lack Wants To Put You To Sleep With An AI-Generated ‘Since I Have A Lover’ Soundscape

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“It’s always beautiful to see musicians continuously find new ways to bring their artistry to life with each project they release,” Uproxx’s Wongo Okon wrote about 6lack’s March album, Since I Have A Lover. 6lack took that personally, as he teamed with the Berlin-based AI sound wellness company Endel to create a new function for Since I Have A Lover that nobody saw coming.

Last week, 6lack took to Instagram to tease his and Endel’s collaborative “Sounds For Slowing Down” series, including “an ethereal listening experience of my new sleep soundscape” on Thursday, July 6, and Friday, July 7. The sessions will be hosted in-person in Berlin and Los Angeles, as well as within the app.

Per press release, two soundscapes were created from Since I Have A Lover using “scientifically validated AI technology rooted in extensive neuroscience research” with the intent “to help people sleep and focus better.”

“This is about letting people experience my music in a new way,” 6lack said in a statement. “These sounds can be for rest and relaxation, or for helping you feel inspired and creative. It’s for finding a sense of balance in life. Since I Have A Lover has plenty of magical sounds, and combined with Endel’s AI and science, it was easy to create something that felt healing.”

“SIHAL (Endel Sleep Soundscape)” and “SIHAL (Endel Lo-fi Soundscape)” will release on all streaming platforms on July 8 and July 24, respectively. The partnership is described as an extension of 6lack’s mental health advocacy, purposefully occurring during BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month.

These soundscapes could come in handy for 6lack during his upcoming Since I Have A Lover Tour, beginning this October.

Listen to snippets below.

The Recording Academy Clarified That AI Music Is ‘Absolutely Eligible’ For Grammy Nominations (With A Catch)

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Just a few weeks after the Recording Academy announced new rules to guard AI from being fully included in the Grammys main categories, the CEO/President Harvey Mason Jr. opened up to The Associated Press about how they will actually be adapting.

“Here’s the super easy, headline statement: AI, or music that contains AI-created elements, is absolutely eligible for entry and for consideration for Grammy nomination. Period,” Mason said. “What’s not going to happen is we are not going to give a Grammy or Grammy nomination to the AI portion.”

Mason went on to clarify that if “what is performing is not human creation” as a lead vocal, it would be included for a songwriting nomination, but not a performance one. “Conversely, if a song was sung by an actual human in the studio, and they did all the performing, but AI wrote the lyric or the track, the song would not be eligible in a composition or a songwriting category,” he added.

Basically put, the Grammys won’t be shutting out AI completely — as long as a real-life artist or team plays a larger role on the nominated piece.

“As long as the human is contributing in a more than de minimis amount, which to us means a meaningful way, they are and will always be considered for a nomination or a win,” he noted. “We don’t want to see technology replace human creativity. We want to make sure technology is enhancing, embellishing, or additive to human creativity. So that’s why we took this particular stand in this award cycle.”

The Recording Academy will announce their nominations for the 2024 ceremony on November 10.

Patrick Star From ‘SpongeBob Squarepants’ Is On TikTok Singing Classic R&B Songs Thanks To AI, And People Love It

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In a truly wild set of words for 2023, Patrick Star from Spongebob Squarepants (yes, the cartoon starfish) is now a viral TikTok trend. Why? Users are making the character sing the biggest R&B hits through AI technology.

While it’s just an attempt at the character’s voice and not really the greatest considering, many TikTok accounts are still having fun playing around to see how he sounds on different tracks. One of those doing it, user @twrksumn and her added account @aiquietstorm, has put Patrick with everything from Anita Baker’s “Angel” to Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart.”

“Patrick doing gospel and R&B now,” one person wrote under the Baker video with a bunch of laughing emojis.

“It’s giving Michael McDonald,” another user commented on a different video, which inspired the poster to make Patrick play his song, “I Keep Forgettin.”

@twrksumn

Replying to @Almira Ara and now he’s giving Michael McDonald for real.

♬ original sound – Dréa

@aiquietstorm

“Unbreak My Heart” (pt. 1)

♬ original sound – Quiet Storm Patrick

Another popular profile getting in on the Patrick craze is @martinluthervandrossjr, has added some edited memes of Patrick and Spongebob to go along with the AI vocals.

@martinluthervandrossjr

What would the name of the church be😂😂😂😂 #spongebob #spongebobsquarepants #patrickstar #spongebobmeme #blacktiktok #blacktiktokcommunity #blacktok #funny #church #blackchurch #CapCut

♬ original sound – Billy Bagwellington

As the trend gains more traction, users are waiting to hear their favorite artists get an AI cover turn — or even hear other characters perform from the Bikini Bottom universe.

Check out just a few of the Patrick Star AI covers above.

AI Music Is Eligible To Win Grammy Awards Under The Right Circumstances, Per New Recording Academy Rules

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The 2024 Grammy Awards will be a bit different than ceremonies from prior years. For instance, The Recording Academy revealed earlier this week that three new categories have been added: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording. Now, the Academy has also addressed AI music and the eligibility of works created using artificial intelligence.

As Variety reports, there are new “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Protocols” that essentially say music made purely by AI cannot be nominated for a Grammy. However, human-created work made using AI technology is eligible, so long as there’s a significant human contribution.

Here’s what it says in full:

“The GRAMMY Award recognizes creative excellence. Only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a GRAMMY Award. A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any Categories. A work that features elements of A.I. material (i.e., material generated by the use of artificial intelligence technology) is eligible in applicable Categories; however: (1) the human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful and more than de minimis; (2) such human authorship component must be relevant to the Category in which such work is entered (e.g., if the work is submitted in a songwriting Category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the music and/or lyrics; if the work is submitted in a performance Category, there must be meaningful and more than de minimis human authorship in respect of the performance); and (3) the author(s) of any A.I. material incorporated into the work are not eligible to be nominees or GRAMMY recipients insofar as their contribution to the portion of the work that consists of such A.I material is concerned. De minimis is defined as lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard.”

So far, Grimes has been the most notable artist to dive headfirst into AI music: A song featuring “GrimesAI,” how tracks using an AI version of her voice are credited, was released last month.

AI-Generated Facial Recognition Raises Concerns Over Citizen Surveillance

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Artificial Intelligence

Facial recognition technology, powered by AI (artificial intelligence), has sparked a contentious debate as it has the potential to detect the physical features of citizens for surveillance purposes. Introducing new AI technology capable of surveillance, used in low-income housing projects nationwide, has raised concerns about privacy and racial bias. AI Controversy & Racial Bias Past […]

The post AI-Generated Facial Recognition Raises Concerns Over Citizen Surveillance appeared first on SOHH.com.

Lil Baby Was Less Than Impressed With A TikTok AI Anime Filter’s Results: ‘Aw, HELL Naw!’

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Over on TikTok, various AI-powered filters have become all the rage. With the skyrocketing popularity of anime in the US, naturally, one of TikTok users’ favorite filters turns them into anime-style illustrations of themselves. But the results aren’t always predictable, as Lil Baby found out recently as part of his brand partnership with Axe Body Spray. As Baby and Axe are producing a manga for their upcoming “Fine Fragrance Collection,” it’s only right that the Atlanta rapper opted to try out the anime filter on TikTok — even if the results were less impressive.

“Let me check this out,” he says, as he fires up the filter. Unfortunately, the illustration it generates is … well … look, there’s a reason nobody wants AI writing scripts or making songs just yet. Baby’s reaction sums it up best: “Aw, HELL naw!” he exclaims. You can see it for yourself below:

@lilbaby

Make me look good y’all & buy @AXE @Walmart b4 6/15 to get Shonen Baby AXEPartner

♬ original sound – Lil Baby

Baby will have plenty of time to catch up on his favorite anime and manga when he goes on his It’s Only Us Tour at the end of July. With two months’ worth of travel ahead of him, now’s the best time for him to stock up on reading/viewing material for the road. His Axe manga, Shonen Baby, is due on 6/11.

Ice Cube Called AI ‘Demonic’ And Said That He’ll ‘Sue The Motherf*cker’ Who Attempts An AI Ice Cube Song

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Ice Cube knows the value of great writing, and his pen game is as respected as ever. LeBron James cited Cube’s lyrics to commemorate becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February, and Logic was compelled to cover Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day,” which Cube co-signed despite lukewarm (at best) fan reception.

Ice Cube does not co-sign the use of AI in hip-hop, however.

The iconic West Coast rapper visited the Full Send Podcast last week and was asked about “this new wave of rappers,” teeing him up to give a scathing review of AI.

Ice Cube’s thoughtful response began at the 47:35 mark:

“I like the beats. The artists are getting lost in autotunes, and now that you have an AI computer, I think people don’t want a computerized rapper no more. They want to hear your voice. I don’t know any rappers by they voice no more. I used to know all the rappers just – hear they voice, know who that is.

I think they need to figure out how to put that autotune down, and we need to hear what people sound like and if they’re as good because I think AI is demonic. I think AI is gonna get a backlash from real people — real, organic people — and so I think artists need to go back to using their real voice and making sure people know this is authentic and not made from a computer.”

When asked whether he was implying all artists now use AI, Ice Cube clarified, “I think autotune sounds computer-like, and I think it’s all starting to sound artificial because of AI.”

In case there was any remaining confusion regarding Ice Cube’s stance on AI, he later plainly stated: “I don’t want to hear an AI Drake song. I don’t want to hear that bullsh*t, and he should sue whoever made it.”

And if anyone dares to make an AI Ice Cube song, “I’m gonna sue the motherf*cker who make it, too, and the platform that plays it.”

Sting and will.i.am are among other artists who have shared their opinions on AI.

Watch Ice Cube’s full Full Send episode above.