Rap beefs are to hip-hop as as duels were to the Wild Wild West. Where would the genre be without the drama? Reputations and riches are made and lost by the competition. LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee, had an ongoing beef from the late eighties to the early nineties. Tupac and Biggie were ultimately murdered in beef-related drive-by shootings.
Hip-hop fans and artists have seen more battles than all other genres, combined.
But this Drake and Kendrick Lamar is some next level isht. It has morphed into a high-stakes showdown. Driven by tech and social media it is moving as fast as a hyped-up NFT drop. AI’s creativity is changing the way music is made.
So what does this mean for African American entrepreneurs in the industry? Hint: get your skills up.
At the epicenter of this sonic rap skirmish lies producer Metro Boomin. The maestro behind the scenes unleashed an AI-generated beat dubbed “BBL Drizzy” to stoke the flames of rivalry. He upped the ante with a BBL Drizzy Beat Giveaway offering the winner $10,000.
best verse over this gets a free beat
just upload your song and hashtag #bbldrizzybeatgiveaway https://t.co/YDULmWYm0M— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
The AI intrusion didn’t stop there.
In March, Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” thrust the feud into overdrive with AI-generated vocals mimicking rap icons Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. However, the unauthorized use of Tupac’s likeness ignited a legal firestorm. The Shakur Estate sent a cease-and-desist. The episode revealed questions about the ethical boundaries of AI in artistic expression.
Enter Twitter mogul and Bitcoin aficionado Jack Dorsey. He threw his weight behind Lamar in a public display of solidarity.
Drake quickly removed the contentious track from circulation. Meanwhile Lamar struck back with “Euphoria.” He blasted Drake’s reliance on AI and super-sized songwriting teams.
But the AI saga doesn’t end with the megastars.
Last year saw Drake himself embroiled in AI drama when a song replicating his and The Weeknd’s voices went viral. The convo sparked debates on its authenticity versus the real deal. Despite its synthetic origins, “Heart On My Sleeve” garnered praise.
These tools are challenging the conventional notions of artistic creation.
For African American entrepreneurs navigating the ever-evolving music industry, the Drake-Lamar feud serves as a cautionary tale and a beacon of opportunity.
As AI becomes increasingly intertwined with the creative process, savvy entrepreneurs must harness its potential.
Don’t get left behind in this arms race. Think innovate and disrupt. Take action forging new paths in an industry ripe for transformation.
Time to upgrade your skill set
From AI-generated beats to vocal imitations, the future of music screams with boundless possibilities.
For entrepreneurs and brands bold enough to seize them, the stage is set for innovation and reinvention. As Drake and Lamar’s feud rages on, one thing is clear. The AI revolution has only just begun.
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