Capitol Records has signed its first virtual rapper, an AI robot named FN Meka.
The deal was inked following Meka’s explosive independent success on TikTok with its singles “Moonwalkin,” “Speed Demon” and “Internet.” The rapper has garnered over a billion views and has accrued 10 million followers on TikTok alone, making it the No. 1 virtual being on the platform.
To celebrate the new deal, Meka dropped its first single with Capitol Records titled “Florida Water” featuring Gunna and Fortnite streamer Clix. It was produced by Turbo and DJ Holiday. The A.I. rapper also announced earlier this week that it had starred in a new commercial for Apple Music.
Ryan Ruden, Capitol Music Group’s Executive Vice President of Experiential Marketing & Business Development, told Music Business Worldwide that Meka, “meets at the intersection of music, technology and gaming culture,” and “is just a preview of what’s to come.”
“This latest project with FN Meka and Clix, while a first of its kind, is only an evolution of Capitol Records 80-year history of innovation,” Ruden said.
The outlet also interviewed Anthony Martini, who served as the co-founder of Factory New, the virtual record label Meka was first “signed” to.
Snoop Dogg's Son Shares Video Of Him Convincing Eminem To Join Metaverse
“As of now, a human voice performs the vocals, but we are working towards the ability to have a computer come up with and perform its own words – and even collaborate with other computers as ‘co-writers,'” Martini said.
He added that his Factory New label, “developed proprietary AI technology that analyzes certain popular songs of a specified genre and generates recommendations for the various elements of song construction: lyrical content, chords, melody, tempo, sounds, etc.” It would then, “combine these elements to create the song.”
Major labels have been investing in A.I. talent for a few years now. Warner Records recently struck a deal with K-Pop’s SM Entertainment and a “Metaverse Girl Group” called girl group aespa, which is comprised of four human members and four virtual members.
In China, Warner Music Group’s pan-Asian dance label Whet Records also signed a virtual artist called Ha Jiang.
Hip Hop Is Doomed
Hip hop? More like the music industry if the people will it
AI artists is nothing new though. Already been big in South Korea for years.
Can we get an actually important A.I. hip hop artist made to send a message of good will instead of this Fortnite skin who is more generic than a gray blob?..
Damn AI just replaced like 90% of the rappers that are out there right now lmao
I actually don’t understand. Its voiced by a human. Like a person is rapping? This sounds like a scam. XDDD
Pretty sure the voice is made with computers. Theres someone making the lyrics though, or at least cleaning up the lyrics to make sure it flows right.
A.i does it all, look into blue beam project, just goes to show how far technology has come and the plans for it to over throw humans.
Everyday is like an episode South Park.
Same could be said about your mom’s ass
It’s a smart way for SnitchNine to make a comeback lol
This shit corny af
its all fun n games till the AI starts rapping abt killing humanity
But Them SkyNet Bars tho….lol
WTF kinda Max Headroom Lawnmower Man type of shit is this ? Although maybe this is a good idea for rappers to not get killed give them an avatar and remain anonymous.
At least he ain’t got to worry about getting shot.
Im about to catch him slacking in the metaverse
BET HE CAN’T FUCK WITH MC SKAT KAT!!!!!
Thats how major labels will replace all artists to get 100% of the profit in the future
This is how EVERY company is going to replace all of us to get 100% profit…
what a lame generation whats next the california raisins gettin a deal?
That’d actually be loads better than this utter trash.
AI artists have been a thing in Japan for years, there’s a kpop AI group called k/da that was made for league of legends promo that actually took off, and there’s an American AI singer called Miquela already out. Gorillaz could be considered AI too. So in other words this isn’t a new concept related to the young generation solely, but people are always gonna listen to human artists for that connection/they don’t have to be worried about being replaced since real singers/groups are behind the AI anyway
Hip Hop should be real people with real backgrounds.
FOH with this bladerunner BS
Wow…the game is truly DEAD!
no its not. you just got older. theres 10 million rappers out there. you can find one who raps like its 94.
Notice how they made him a light skinned brother!!
nobody cared but u
i didnt. i did notice his ghey green hair and a damn bull ring. people like that were seen as outcasts and losers. now its praised for being different.
gotta be better than that trash they been putting out lately
This isn’t much different than half the fake, industry created, robotic human rappers out there now.