Atlanta-born rapper Gunna recently opened up about his evolving creative process and his interest in artificial intelligence (AI) in music during a conversation with will.i.am, the iconic frontman of The Black Eyed Peas. Known for hits like Drip Too Hard and his influential role in modern trap, Gunna shared that while he isn’t fully hands-on with AI yet, he is eager to experiment with the technology in the near future.
During their chat, will.i.am — who has been a pioneer in integrating AI into music with his innovative platform RAiDiO.FYI — predicted a major shift in the industry by 2030. He envisions AI artists not only producing and writing music but also starring in videos and performances. Gunna agreed, expressing his excitement about collaborating with AI-driven creators, even hinting at plans to sign an AI artist soon. “You can’t beat ’em, so you gotta get with ’em,” Gunna said, underscoring his readiness to embrace this technological wave cautiously but optimistically.
On the other side of the AI music conversation is producer Timbaland, a legendary figure from Virginia Beach who has shaped the sound of hip-hop and pop for decades. Timbaland recently launched an AI entertainment company called Stage Zero and introduced an AI artist named TaTa, whose music is crafted through a collaboration between human creators and AI tools like Suno. However, his foray into AI stirred controversy when he used a beat from producer K Fresh without permission to create an AI remix. This sparked backlash and a public call for accountability from K Fresh and his legal team.
Timbaland responded swiftly with a public apology, admitting he failed to verify the beat’s origin and removing the demo from the AI platform. Though the controversy remains a cautionary tale about rights and ethics in AI music creation, it also highlights the growing pains artists face while navigating this new frontier.
While Gunna remains focused on how AI can enhance his own music, the contrasting approaches from him and Timbaland show the complexities of adopting AI in the music world. As AI continues to evolve, both artists are at the forefront of redefining creativity in the digital age, each taking different paths toward the future soundscape.
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