Keeping It Real: Where We Stand on AI in Music

At our platform, we believe in embracing the possibilities that AI brings to the music industry—while staying rooted in the authenticity that defines our culture. We are proudly pro-AI and pro-artist. To us, those positions aren’t in conflict—they're in conversation. We believe AI can uplift creativity, streamline production, and expand artistic expression—without replacing the human soul behind the art. AI isn’t just tech—it’s a tool. And when it’s used to support creativity rather than replace it, that’s when it shines.

How AI Adds Value

Let’s start with what we co-sign.

AI in the studio? We’re here for it. Artists and producers are using AI to level up their process in ways that still keep the soul of the music intact.

Wiz Khalifa recently tapped into AI to generate cover art. That move wasn’t about cutting corners—it was about unlocking new visual lanes and doing it independently. On the songwriting side, Lupe Fiasco has worked with Google to experiment with AI as a lyrical tool—like a digital sparring partner that helps sharpen the pen. It’s still his voice, his bars—just with a little extra lift in the background.

We’re also seeing AI make waves in mixing and mastering. These tools help independent artists get clean, professional sound without draining their budgets. And when AI is used to sketch out a melody or build a reference track? That’s just innovation doing its thing—especially when those sketches are later recorded with real artists.

Our Boundaries with AI

Now, here’s where we hit pause.

We don’t co-sign fully AI-generated vocals as the final product. Not in hip hop. Not in R&B. There’s something sacred about the human voice—something lived-in and personal that no machine can replicate. We’re not interested in AI mimicking the cadence of legends or pushing out soulless verses just to flood playlists.

Same goes for ghost-generating entire songs, melodies, or hooks and calling it artistry. We believe AI can be part of the journey—but not the destination. If you’re feeding it a prompt and hitting publish with no human touch? That’s not collaboration, that’s replacement.

Why This Conversation Matters

This conversation isn’t about fear—it’s about intention. Sampling wasn’t the end of originality. Neither was Auto-Tune. AI, like every tool before it, just needs guidance and grounding.

We’re not anti-tech—we’re pro-artist. We’re pro-authenticity. We’re pro-AI. And we’re all about that sweet spot where technology amplifies human creativity without diluting it.

Final Thoughts

So here’s our bottom line: use the tools. Experiment. Innovate. But don’t lose the heart in the process. We can evolve without erasing what made this culture powerful in the first place.

The Do’s

• Use AI to generate cover art (e.g. Wiz Khalifa)

• Leverage AI tools to assist in songwriting and lyrical development (e.g. Lupe Fiasco)

• Apply AI in mixing and mastering to improve production quality

• Create AI-assisted reference tracks or melody ideas to guide human performance

• Use AI to enhance fan engagement in ways that support the artist’s voice

The Don’ts

• Don’t release fully AI-generated vocals as the final product

• Don’t use AI to imitate the voices or styles of other artists

• Don’t use AI to auto-generate songs without human creative input

• Don’t rely on AI to replace authentic, lived experience in lyrical content

• Don’t hide AI involvement—transparency matters to the culture