Kanye West has gone and pushed the envelope yet again when it comes to music. On Justin Laboy’s podcast, The Download, Kanye confirmed that AI is prominently featured in his new album, BULLY. Even Kanye’s producer took a shot at utilizing AI to make Lil RT sound almost indistinguishable from Kanye himself, and a controversy over the future of music ensued.
Reactions online have been two-way. Some see it as a new path for hip-hop, and others question whether AI takes an artist out of its voice’s humanity. One fan tweeted that AI can revolutionize music, but others say it will rob the genre of the humanity that defines it.
Kanye defended AI, comparing it to autotune, a feature initially hated but later a staple in sound today. Autotune generated a mixed reaction when Kanye first started using it in 808s & Heartbreak but, in the long run, reshaped the direction of the industry. Can AI follow a similar path?
Hip-hop has been comfortable with technology, from sampling to drum machines to computer production. Kanye’s use of AI could mark a new big move in a long succession of innovations that kept the form in motion. Yet, no concerns about technology’s role in protecting expression have yet been voiced.
Authenticity has long been at the root of hip-hop. The genre is ability to deliver individual experiences through voice and lyrics distinguishes it. With AI voice creation becoming ubiquitous, will it redefine humans’ reaction to music?
Kanye’s BULLY comes out in June 15, 2025. Whatever transpires with this album, whether it sets a new record for the record label or creates a fan uprising, one reality cannot be disputed: AI will simmer and smolder. Will it become a career-altering act, a 808s & Heartbreak, or is AI hyped? Whatever, one reality cannot be disputed: hip-hop is at the forefront of transformation yet again.
