Kanye West and the Future of AI in Music: A New Creative Revolution

Kanye West has never been one to follow the rules. Whether it’s redefining the sound of hip-hop, reshaping fashion, or challenging the structures of the music industry, he moves with an unshakable belief in his own vision. In a recent interview with Justin Laboy, Ye opened up about his evolving creative process and the role artificial intelligence is playing in his music. While his thoughts often spiral into multiple directions, one thing remains clear: Kanye sees AI as the next frontier in music, and he’s already using it to shape his sound.

AI in Music: The Next Evolution

For Kanye, AI isn’t a threat—it’s a tool, and like every revolutionary technology before it, it’s being met with resistance. He compares the skepticism around AI to the backlash autotune received when it first hit the mainstream.

“People had a negative reaction to autotune at first,” Kanye says. “As an artist, I could take anything and turn it into something beautiful. AI is just the next step.”

Kanye is already integrating AI into his production process in ways that many producers are only beginning to explore. In the past, acquiring clean samples required access to rare studio stems or expensive software. Now, AI can isolate any element of a track—vocals, bass, drums—with just a few clicks. “It’s a dream come true,” Kanye explains. “I send a sample to my engineer, and I just say ‘JS AI.’ We separate it instantly, no waiting around.”

This technology gives him complete control over the manipulation of sounds, allowing him to craft new arrangements in ways that were previously impossible. AI is more than just a shortcut—it’s a new form of creative freedom. While some artists fear AI’s role in music, Kanye is leaning in. “When sampling first started, musicians hated it. When EDM took over, they hated it. People resist change. But AI is here, and it’s only going to make music better.”

The Making of Bully

Ye’s next album, Bully, is set to drop on his daughter North West’s birthday. It marks his first solo project in three years, and according to him, it’s his Miseducation of Lauryn Hill moment. The album represents a refined and deeply personal project, one that embraces the AI-driven production techniques he’s been experimenting with.

While Bully is expected to have Ye’s signature soulful samples, hard-hitting beats, and genre-defying moments, the process behind it is different. Kanye is chopping samples by hand but also utilizing AI to extract and rework sounds in ways that wouldn’t have been possible just a few years ago.

“We’re bringing Mike Dean back for this one,” he confirms, signaling a return to one of his most trusted collaborators. With AI assisting in production, Bully may serve as a blueprint for how artists can incorporate technology without losing their creative essence.

Kanye on the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar Battle

No conversation about hip-hop’s future is complete without addressing the genre’s biggest rivalries. Kanye, who has been at odds with Drake for years, weighed in on the highly publicized Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle.

“Kendrick killed my nemesis,” Kanye says. “Where’s the movies if it ain’t no Drake?”

He acknowledges that Drake’s contributions to hip-hop have been major, but he also recognizes that Kendrick has shifted the game. “Drake added something to the algorithm. Future added something. Now Kendrick has advanced the frequency,” he explains. According to Kanye, battling Kendrick in rap is a near-impossible task. “If you rap against Kendrick, you will lose,” he says bluntly, while adding, “Unless you’re a psycho genius like me.”

Mental Health & The Misdiagnosis of Kanye West

One of the most revealing parts of Kanye’s conversation was his perspective on mental health. For years, Kanye’s erratic public behavior has been attributed to bipolar disorder, a diagnosis he now rejects. Instead, he claims that after seeking further medical advice, he was told he has autism.

“They put bipolar on me,” he says. “But it’s really a case of autism.”

He describes his autism as something that causes him to hyper-fixate on ideas, making it difficult for him to let go of certain concepts. This mindset has shaped much of his artistic vision, often leading to defiant moves that push against the music industry’s expectations. He also admits that once he realized he wasn’t bipolar, he stopped taking medication. For Kanye, his mind—unfiltered and uninhibited—is his greatest creative asset.

Fashion, Wealth, and the Art of Power

Kanye has long been obsessed with ownership—not just of his music, but of his narrative and influence. He likens wealth to power, but not in the traditional sense. “Losing Adidas forced me to prove I still had money,” he admits. “I had to start dressing up like a millionaire again.”

In his mind, true power is not just about having money; it’s about controlling the space you operate in. This is why he continues to push Yeezy as a brand that represents more than just sneakers. He wants to own his influence in music, fashion, and tech.

“None of these [fashion industry] dudes can f*** with Yeezy,” Kanye declares. “None of them. It’s Yeezy over everything.”

AI’s Place in Kanye’s Future

With AI now embedded in his creative process, Kanye is already ahead of the curve. While many artists are still debating whether AI is good or bad for music, Ye is actively shaping what AI-driven production sounds like. His approach to technology isn’t about replacing human creativity but enhancing it. AI allows him to execute his vision faster, more efficiently, and with greater precision.

Kanye West has always been a disruptor. Whether it’s through sound, fashion, or business, he moves forward without waiting for permission. AI in music is inevitable, and Ye has positioned himself as one of its earliest adopters. If history has taught us anything, it’s that when Kanye West bets on a new wave, the industry follows.

The question isn’t whether AI will change music—it’s how soon the rest of the world will catch up to what Kanye is already doing.