Lil Durk has made it clear that all Artificial Intelligence deepfakes which are attempting to use his voice will never replace him as a warm-blooded, able-bodied superstar artist.
Speaking to HipHopDX about future technologies and his new NFT-centered phygital sneaker collection, NXTG3NZ, the OTF honcho said that although AI is going to change how people make music, it won’t replace humans.
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“I heard them AI deep fakes usin’ my voice, it’s wild what tech be doin’,” Lil Durk told DX. “I think AI gon’ change how we make music, but ain’t nothin’ gonna replace the real deal, them raw vibes and emotions we bring. Just gotta make sure we use it right, ya know? Keep our essence alive.”
Durkio’s NXTG3NZ collection — which stands for “Next Generation Z” with the 3 representing Web3 — brings together the physical and digital worlds. It combines his love for fashion and teaming up with top-level creatives and executives in music and sports to make sure the sneakers are of the highest quality.
To receive the physical sneaker, a person has to purchase an NFT, which allows for it to be a customized experience for sneaker collectors and fans alike. Adam Weitsman, a prominent billionaire figure in the recycling industry and mentor to Lil Durk was gifted the first pair of physical sneakers.
“NXTG3NZ is built on Algorand to bring real value for Lil Durk’s fans,” explained Jessica T. Chin, CMO at Algorand Foundation. “As the pioneers of scaling blockchain infrastructure, we are thrilled to partner with Lil Durk as a platform for change and creativity. Algorand continues to enable real world utility connecting both physical and digital worlds.”
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Keeping on the subject of NFTs, Durk, who’s had quite the decorated career up to this point, told DX that if he was given the opportunity to memorialize a specific moment from his career in NFT form, it would be a particular homecoming show of his.
“I’d pick the time I sold out United Center in my hometown, the energy was unreal,” he said of the 2022 concert. “That night was somethin’ else, and I’d love to share that vibe with the fans, let ’em feel what I felt on that stage.”
Meanwhile, on the music side of things, Lil Durk teased a forthcoming collaboration with J. Cole after performing at Dreamville Festival over the weekend in North Carolina.
Prior to hitting the stage on Saturday night (April 1), the OTF honcho sat down with Rob Markman, Gia Peppers and Wayno where he revealed he was working on new music with Cole.
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“I was gon’ do it anyway,” Durk said about performing at Dreamville. “I wanted to do it anyway getting to the festival world, but me and J. Cole cooking up something too. We just vibing, working, you know what I’m saying?”
