Drake, D.O.C. & Why Everyone's Wrong About A.I. | Breakdown

[@TheCompanyMan]

As the street poet Layzie Bone once said "Either roll or get rolled over." Shout out to the Analysts!

[@MissTeaq]

Very glad to see you on my TL!!! I agree 10/10 ⭐️… Keep it up!!!

[@ryannishikawa1356]

I've been watching since the HipHopDX days and from then to now, Justin always comes through with nuanced perspectives that I haven't heard before, that no one else is saying. I leave every video with something to contemplate

[@commaJim]

Oh hell yeah!! This is a great breakdown. I have so many thoughts about ai stuff. I don't think people care about AI "art" that much. People care about artists, actual people, creating things. The excitement around this stuff is just about the novelty of how much it sounds like Drake. AI ain't anywhere close to being able to create art ex nihilo the way we do. That's because it is just unable to do that kind of raw creation. Using AI could be a useful tool for creating art. But in no way are we gonna be bumping fully ai generated shit the way I'm bumping that new Black Thought!!

[@TheCompanyMan]

Exactly. A.I isn’t forward looking. It’s based off what we’ve done in the past. A.I in the future might be able to make a great black thought verse. But it can’t create a new black thought verse. It can’t know what black thought will do next

[@EmoDKTsuchiya]

​@TheCompanyMan What people fail to understand is that A.I. is using what we've done in the past as a catapult into the future. The hard truth is that most people can't even perceive what's real and what's A.I. generated anymore and we're only in the crawling stage of the tech.

[@uncletruth4529]

For now it can’t….

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@uncletruth4529 No turning back now.

[@shamanic_nostalgia]

What it will probably do it make professional music production avaialble to anyone, which opens the doors for a lot more creatives to come on the scene that havent been creating for one reason or another because they didnt have the resources. This would be a game changer and of course a lot of record execs and corporate approved artists like Drake are gonna be worried because their necks are on the line, its gonna become impossible for them to compete once the music scene becomes even more dense and complex over the next decade.

[@davidhardy5670]

Great video as always man. The way i see AI as an artist myself, is that the years we spend developing skills and finding what makes our work special to us and others is that we worked for it. I think personally that while it's fun to hear things done with AI at times it could also be the lazy mans way to get ahead of singers, painters, rappers etc... to make something in a few minutes that took someone 10 years or more to show to the world is a little disheartening.

[@TheCompanyMan]

I feel you. We’ve had a number of examples in the past that was supposed to kill creativity. Sampling. Camera phones. The internet/blogs. A.i. is another tool at our disposal that can free us up to push further. And it models the past, not the future. Plenty of room for innovation

[@kiarah.371]

i'm sure someone's already said this, but corporate fearmongering and panic-stirring will only last as long as it takes those same corporations to figure out how to monetize AI in a way that solely benefits them. The reason they haven't been paying Holly Herndon any mind is because her model isn't exploitative enough. Ofc they'd never word it like that, but that's basically it imo

[@TheCompanyMan]

Trusting corporations to do the right thing is an exercise in futility. They're trying to scare people away from their future measure of control.

[@thelolrus7491]

This is one of your best in a while!

[@TheCompanyMan]

Thanks man.

[@psychmoto]

This question is for you Justin, as a creator, how would you personally use ai to enhance what you do? Follow up question is how would you feel if someone took your voice and your likeness and created deep fake content impersonating you and potentially affecting your income streams. At the moment the laws around that are loose at best (Insert AI police here). Without proper governance, ai creates a Wild West for protecting creators. Yes you can harness it as a tool but there is also a huge risk to those creators as well. My thoughts on this topic are too nuanced for a comment box but thanks for sharing. Great content as always.

[@TheCompanyMan]

One, if someone can fake me and be compelling, I’ve already fallen off. The humanity and perspective are what makes me me. Two, a.I is a backward looking tool. I should be looking forward regardless. Three, I haven’t used it for scripts yet, but I’ve chatgpt’d plenty of information I’ve used in pitches or as part of research. I also want someone to create a dope verse then a.I my voice on top of the theme song for this show. I see a lot possibilities for a.I in my work.

[@onyxemperorprime2341]

Easily one of your best breakdowns, good shit Justin. AI is such a touchy hot topic issue right now and for good reason. Knew it would take someone like you to really sit down and realize that perhaps AI use could be less sinister in their application. Interesting to think what the future may really hold.

[@TheCompanyMan]

I appreciate you OP

[@maxsmart9116]

The D.O.C. and the Doctor is one of my favorite rap tracks ever.

[@thecunninlynguist]

it's an interesting discussion. It would be helpful for people like D.O.C. Foxy, as you mentioned...but on the other hand, it could be used for a lotta tom foolery. Imagine if beefs popped off cause some A.I. stuff😂 beefs already popped off cause of misunderstood lines, subs, etc. throw in A.I. and now we in trouble. Or it could be like what Terminator told us back in the 80's and the machines gonna take us all.

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s hear now. Might as well focus on the future. Ain’t no going back.

[@LTParis]

@@TheCompanyMan it's impossible to go back, as you noted the genie is wayyyy out of the bottle. You bring up some really valid points of artists that could extend their opportunities through AI. I do think there are some serious negatives that AI will bring, but they have always been bound to happen. We just now see when they may happen. Those that can take those positive advantages of the situation let's have at it. The right way. A new DOC release? Bet.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@LTParis Well said. I also think its a time to become a stakeholder in the future. That's better than sitting on the sidelines and complaining.

[@benmwaba2735]

I think one reason the big dogs are critical of A.I is because technological disruption often shifts power dynamics. A.I can dethroned Universal, Sony and them.

[@AeonLux_]

Incredible piece Just! Didn't know which way you were coming at this topic at first but at the end you're take on the entire subject was solid as fuck my friend ✊Bro this is why I could argue that you're the best journalist in your lane. You got straight talent for what you do and you're, if not, THEE best at it. Props brother I'm here every week checking for your content. Keep on rockin!

[@TheCompanyMan]

Thank you, Lux. I really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the piece and that's for rocking with me.

[@treymcd.5328]

Gah, Justin is always killing it with his videos. Excellent take with AI. & I agree the what-ifs and the monetization could lead to DREAM projects! Especially if artists co-signed it. Can you imagine a Tupac/Kendrick collab. Bad meets Evil 2 with DJ Premier (PRhyme Evil!) and a Weeknd song featuring MJ?! It’s endless & could actually bring more creativity than hostility.

[@TheCompanyMan]

You ain't wrong, Trey! Imagine the time saved to create new things that don't exist yet. So much efficiency for imagination.

[@DiceB]

I can’t believe you guys agree with this … so no need for the real artist?

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@DiceB There's always room for real artists. This makes more room for real artists.

[@vdotme]

Justin used to be my favourite hip hop journalist, then he became my favourite showbiz journalist, now he's just my favourite journalist period. Yes journalism has taken a tumble in quality & standards but my guy levelled the hell up.

[@mgd9151]

@@TheCompanyMan as an artist, I can tell you this is bad. It was already bad for artists and now it is worse.

[@joeymccashland4420]

As always another excellent Breakdown, Justin. I would love to hear an AI Old Kanye featuring New Kanye track. The juxtaposition alone would be great. I hadn't heard of an artist leaning into AI so I am excited to hear how that sounds, Shout Out to Holly Herndon for being ahead of the curve. But the conversation about D.O.C. was one I can't believe I hadn't considered. I heard about Grimes offering up 50% of the credit for an AI song by her but I'd love to hear the take of a D.O.C. or a Foxy Brown in this conversation. Thank you for always keeping me on the forefront of, not only Hip Hop, but music at large. It's All Happening.

[@Big_Raf_TV]

I never thought about it like that before, but man, AI in the case for someone like The D.O.C would be legit.

[@TheCompanyMan]

He's one of the biggest what-ifs in rap history. Just imagine if a.i. was out in 1989.

[@Tumelo-bu7xb]

Seriously! "It's all happening" This really seems to be one of those "embrace the change" situations. But control of this is very important, use not abuse.

[@VanGtfogh]

Great piece Justin. You’ve been killing it

[@TheCompanyMan]

Thank you.

[@technosworld2]

Great discussion and I would also say that we've had people impersonate rappers already with voice and cadence, the same with famous actors, politicians, etc. In that sense, this is just another tool that might be a bit better and easier to use. Obviously people need to be aware of when something is "A.I. generated" or "A.I. assisted" and I hope we are able to somehow detect that properly.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Exactly. Thanks Chris.

[@shortbus1127]

Oh yeah. Forgot to mention...you're still the Goat Justin. You're always so open minded and constantly viewing everything from a view point. We need you

[@TheCompanyMan]

Thank you SB

[@brandonjeffries2150]

Really appreciate the discourse and work on this. Still... I have to take pause when I hear "ride the wave". With exceptions to the rule... this feels morally wrong. To not consent on something that is one's own unique quality or product shouldnt sit well with anyone. D.O.C would have a choice to use his vocals. Same with Foxy. Most people being affected do not.. And have their livelihood/business potentially affected makes it worse. I think this discussions respectfully needed more fleshing out. Just my opinion. Thanks

[@mikeTDE]

Great breakdown JT!

[@mcmisery]

This is beyond music. AI could be used to destroy people by making it seem like an artist said something they had never said. You combine that with deep fake tech, you could make it look like an artist or anyone for that matter doing things they had never done. This is so much bigger than entertainment

[@shamanic_nostalgia]

true and this will affect everyone, not just musicians and other celebrities. the next election is gonna be a next level mess

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s here now. How do you suggest we stop it?

[@michaelotis223]

@@TheCompanyMan *crickets* lol

[@x4president1]

​@@TheCompanyMan No one has an answer to that question

[@YoungBasedChefBeezy]

@@TheCompanyMan crack down and restrict what materials these AI’s are allowed access to. “Jump in now, ride the way, don’t fight it” just sounds like soulless dystopian submission. Just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s good and if people truly do not like the direction something is headed, it should be challenged and fought.

[@charliedalencour5141]

Big respect, but personally, I disagree with some of the ideas you laid out here. I think an artist like Holly is doing great work from what you laid out here, consent and compensation are definitely the two most important things in this discussion, so if companies follow her roadmap that’d be incredible. that being said, in almost all use cases that we’ve seen to this point, AI has been a detriment to art. And when major labels come in and make the decisions, it’s only going to be decisions that benefit them. Case in point, spotify. Spotify barely pays artists anything, and that’s all good for large artists, but the smaller and midsized ones are the guys who get taken advantage of. I obviously think music streaming is a net good, but the way it went down took advantage of the people who need the service the most. Also we gotta talk about posthumous records. Right now these projects are bad enough, but if ai is widely adopted without restraint, we’re seeing wayyy more of those, and who become the “rights holders” to their own voice at a certain point? And again, thinking about the midsized artists, what are the protections for them? 10 years from now, do I see AI adoption not benefiting a major artist and giving them compensation? Absolutely not. but 10 years from now do I see a world where mid-small artists’ work/voices are being used unfairly? Yes, because when it comes down it, they don’t have the same power to control it. I think AI as an instrument (with a ton of restraints) is a sort of interesting tool. I think generative AI as trend observation could be interesting. But when it starts replacing songwriters, composers and producers-when it starts monopolizing small artists, that’s when I think the harm outweighs the benefits.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Legal will catchup to that. Sampling naysayers raised a lot of similar concerns. Now those songwriters and producers (whoever the rights holder is) that were upset make more money than ever. Just like in the streaming era, more people make money off of music than ever. The small/midsize artist in the streaming era is at least in the retail stores. Most of these cats would've never made it to best buy. They're at least in the game. Posthumous projects are a moral/values conversation to me already, whether a.i. or not. But that also comes down to the rights holder. They put a fake michael jackson on the MJ posthumous project from 11 years ago and tried to not tell nobody. The music industry is an industry created by gangsters. That's why I think people should get into a.i. now and plant their flag.

[@ronhawk]

Been talking about this with friends. The issue I see is, when companies can create content with out artists. All you have to do is put the parameters into a computer and get album , a movie, art work for ads. These companies will see no need for artists. who can take months or years to create a piece of art. An now take seconds and not have pay any one for it.

[@TheCompanyMan]

The laws will catchup. They always do. But away from that, you still need humans to make something for a.i. to mimic. it works on patterns. There's no humanity and humanity always creates something new.

[@ronhawk]

@@TheCompanyMan the way I'm seeing it. Is different. The photo art where someone says dog a house in a yard and it creates a picture. At first it normal but the details little things will be off. And as you know they made ai artist. So now all you need to say is I need a southern rapper with classical music and a trap beat. In seconds have a song or album. So there's not a specific person to copy from. The programming is at that point where it can start doing that. And right now it's at the point you can ai to create a print ad for a product. No need for a photographer. Models. Or photo session. Just a computer. The next 10years is going to be crazy. This why music industry doesn't want music catalog scanned. We will not know if we're listening to person or a made up person. An artist who never existed, is the future.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@ronhawk They're being sued for scraping other people's work. news.artnet.com/art-world/class-action-lawsuit-ai-generators-deviantart-midjourney-stable-diffusion-2246770

[@kmc1994]

@@TheCompanyMan I think this video and your stance is irresponsible and strange as someone who makes a living off of real artists’ work. This is undercutting human artists period and falling into this (not “fighting” it) is exactly what they want us to do. Idk. Im an artist myself. This is not good for us. I look at your channel differently now because I don’t feel you’re on the right side of revolution. We’re shooting ourselves in the foot. Period. We’re not doing what they DONT EXPECT because that’s too hard and dangerous. And getting “rolled over” isn’t what you think it is. We have the power. Or we’re just lazy.

[@ronhawk]

@@TheCompanyMan you misunderstand where I'm coming from. You're lock into someone put drake and Michael Jackson doing "whoop there it is". I'm talking about replacing the artist altogether. Ai right now can write songs. You can generate new voice. There's no copyright claim on a new song. an artist can't sue if their voice isn't being used. You don't need an artist a producer. Just push a button and a song pop out.

[@baebanxx6942]

What people don't understand is that this dream Collab stuff (creating your own versions of your fave artists work) is already happening. With the massive popularity of mashups, samples, remixes people have always wanted to hear diff version of stuff they already know and love. AI is just another tool to do that. I think it's just a fear of change that grips people when they feel like they're getting left behind instead of getting ahead.

[@williamwest3269]

They already have deceased rappers on stage in the form of a hologram, now they want to use AI for rappers/artist? This is the beginning of the end. Pete rock is absolutely right in his post. Humans are the most intelligent “beings” on the planet, especially when you consider we create & write all the programs for the technology that we have. Question: what happens when AI starts learning & thinking for itself? This is the beginning of the end…

[@thecunninlynguist]

terminator tried to warn us.

[@TheCompanyMan]

If this is the beginning of the end then we been on our path destruction for half a century. You can’t put ketchup back in the bottle .

[@MrCoBaker]

As a hip hop fan, I’m disappointed in Justin, seemingly being on board with this!

[@warhammerfaction]

Glad you posting

[@TheLuiscelaya]

The blowup in AI isn’t exactly a surprising discovery considering musicians, producers, and sound engineers have been using computerized technology since it’s been commercialized considering this isn’t THAT different from drum machines, auto-tune, pro tools, quantized drums and vocal rhythms, etc., but im honestly very curious where this leads. I’m more scared where this leads us socially, economically, and politically. AI in my opinion could us down some scary roads like conflict and wars. AI in music is just scratching the surface of where it could lead us. Great video on the topic, Justin

[@shamanic_nostalgia]

yeah someone already built a ChaoGPT, were pretty much already there

[@edsonalves7671]

Fair points, especially thinking about distributors being 10 years ahead of Spotify. I guess the fear of creating a monster is just to big. If you ask me, it's developing to quick. We need to come with a common understanding first.

[@TheCompanyMan]

That's true. How do you suggest that happens?

[@edsonalves7671]

@@TheCompanyMan about the same as clearing a sample, it's the same ballpark

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@edsonalves7671 Boom. I'm with that. Ultimately, that's how it'll go. But to me, just because the legal hasnt caught doesnt mean people should avoid. Artists shouldnt be behind the curve on this.

[@illgoat]

This was a great piece Justin

[@doze_beats380]

Been listening to that Codefendants album nonstop since it came out.

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s so dope

[@AyindeSekou]

Real livec TBD it begs the question of sampling for real. Like back in the days when some legends were against sampling, was it because artists were sampling/grafting the instrumentation or sampling/grafting the humanity that produced that instrumentation? Hot shit famo

[@TheCompanyMan]

I think it was probably both. There's a miles davis quote I almost used where he calls hip hop "artistic necrophilia." It's eating the past. Hip Hop's clearly evolved since then.

[@AyindeSekou]

@@TheCompanyMan Wordlife bless for the jewel I agree. It's a wonderful truth that Hip Hop is leagues ahead of what most of us thought possible. It's hard for me to imagine someone rolling with saying something they didn't say nah mean, but this TBD def charged my perspective on this AI phenomenon, so bless for that my G, respect

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@AyindeSekou Thanks man. I appreciate you checking it out.

[@ViceJupiter]

I love this breakdown & I’m glad I have a better understanding but one of my biggest concerns and fears is removing the artist, or your favorite artist(s), entirely. I get it that it’s not the real thing but it’s the part about them not being compensated. I know that Holly has her website but how can everyone get what they deserve financially? I don’t just mean musicians. I’m talking about the artists that draw & paint for a living. The ones on a come up, the ones that have been struggling for years and the ones that have a struggled-stabled-income. Why not give the commission to the artists that are passionate about what they do instead of going to an AI site to get a replica? We all know artists don’t get compensated not NEARLY enough for what they do & they’re gonna get left behind if they’re not brought along for the wave. If there’s a way for them to get paid & do half the work that they were going to do, since AI can do everything, then I’m all for it. We need artists & we need them in the future too.

[@mrjames851]

Creatives are being paid a fraction of a penny because what Napster started. The industry found a way to participate and it doesn't benefit those creatives. They'll try to trick you by the possibility of reaching every person, but there are 38 million songs on spotify alone with zero streams

[@TheCompanyMan]

The industry had the technology before napster. Digital music had been around a decade prior. They could've bought Napster and used it to sell records. Instead they sued people. And away from that, anyone can put music on streaming platforms. 90% of these artists would've never made it into best buy at all. They're at least in the game.

[@VibesAndNotes]

Very nuanced perspective. At least it has me thinking find where to invest because, as you said, the genie is out of the bottle

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s all happening

[@DSa75044]

We need solutions to how AI will disrupt society. The issue is that we're not counteracting the issues that tech will cause. For example, an estimated 300 million jobs may be lost; how we can provide free or low-cost training to people so they can be trained on jobs that will not be eliminated.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Great time for Universal Basic Income, in my opinion. I think people miss the opportunities that open up once technology makes certain things easier. To make a song you used to need miles of tape and massive recording devices. Technology killed all that and yet people are still using studios, people still make big records, engineers are still here and everything is more efficient. The Instagram was supposed to kill photographers. Photographers are still here.

[@DSa75044]

@@TheCompanyMan , I agree about UBI, I don’t think the tape example is comparable it isn’t replicating human intelligence. I am excited about the opportunities, but I am concerned bc America is already has the largest inequities in recorded human history. And those at the top spend in incredible amount of time figuring out how to get richer driverless trucks, personless fast food restaurants etc. Nothing about our current society says the bourgeoisie gives AF about humans when computers can make them more, bc we live in a hyper capitalist society.

[@mrjames851]

The D.O.C. using technology to sure up his voice is more along the lines of using auotune/melodyne. But the raw character of his current voice is part of his story and is part of his story. Even if he used that, that's a big difference from someone across the country doing it for him and making the profit. You still need permission, and to compensate him, because you can't cause brand confusion and it would still be considered infringement.

[@TheCompanyMan]

The legal will catch up as it always does. Just like sampling.

[@sharingan072]

I’m curious: at 4:20, why do you say “it’s fake Drake; it’ll never compete with the original”?

[@TheCompanyMan]

Computers mimic humans. They’re based on our patterns. But human patterns, language, and love shift all the time. So it’s only as good as what we’ve done in the past

[@luffyskywalker7549]

The problem isn't the technology itself, it's the way it's being used and that's why everyone is in a panic. Ai shouldn't be allowed to use people's NIL without permission. If laws around it become more clear than I agree it can be a very useful tool.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Critics said the same thing about sampling. Then the laws and licensing caught up. That will happen here as well.

[@freezinginferno2106]

Damn! Allen Iverson been busy after the NBA! all jokes aside tho this the first forward thinking and MOST optimistic perspective I've heard about AI generated music. Seems like the music industry never learned from napster and streaming, its too late to try to control it now, the ones that will embrace it the soonest and the best will go far. An incredible point about D.O.C.s career, amazing video.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Thank you brother. Allen Iverson forever the innovator. Ha!

[@shamanic_nostalgia]

plot twist: Allen Iverson starts using AI to do music again and becomes one of the GOATS

[@seaberry11]

The issue I have with A.I. is the problems that will come with these voices. People are already using them to get ransom money from parents by saying they kidnapped their kid, using A.I. as the children voice. Imagine the damage you can do to someone by using their voice to say something outlandish, or people that say outlandish stuff saying it was an A.I. voice. The applications in the wrong hands can be dangerous.

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s already here. Too late to pull back

[@seaberry11]

@@TheCompanyMan true, it is too late.

[@guillermog5564]

Great piece! You can’t stop progress, so you got a valid point

[@HigherEdGaming]

The assumption that "it'll never hold up to the original," especially in the eyes of the regular consumer, is the only place i see this falling short

[@TheCompanyMan]

If the original or the person being copied receives a licensing fee or royalty or ownership, are you bothered by it?

[@HigherEdGaming]

@@TheCompanyMan Absolutely not, but considering the history of the industry, and the average persons desire to "make it," I'm full of doubt. I got hope for the best outcome, but history got me jaded.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@HigherEdGaming More people make money through music now than ever. Technology opened up the independent flood gates and the biggest artists are making more money that big artists in the past. Corporate shenanigans are omnipresent in every era.

[@iz630]

7:08 I was thinking the same thing!!! D.O.C. Was the first to come to mind as well. Man I wonder what Big L would’ve sounded like after he would’ve signed with Rockafella and raped over the beats at baseline studios mannnnnnnnnn #RipBigL

[@climatebreakdownpodcast1990]

The likes of Elon Musk saying we need to pause and consider how we adopt new technology carefully is a joke. When do these proud "disruptors" put their own tech projects to democratic scrutiny? That's how it should be, instead of the fake "choice" of the free market where change just sweeps everyone up without any say in the matter (try getting by smoothly without a smartphone). Thanks for shouting out Codefendants! Seeing them here in Florida next week. The D.O.C. track is so good. Now that's innovation!

[@TheCompanyMan]

BIGFAX. Just saw codefendants in Anaheim. Those cats are great. This Is Crime Wave is my favorite album this year.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Let me know what you think of the show after you see them.

[@georgetusuubira8695]

With the way the rap industry works, any hint of 'fakeness'/'artificialness' would possibly drive fans away/lower sales.

[@TheCompanyMan]

BIGFAX

[@Unit27]

Crazy that I met Holly in a random house garage party like 12 years ago and now I see her pop up in a TCM video.

[@TheCompanyMan]

She’s so talented. Is she a nice person?

[@Unit27]

@@TheCompanyMan amazing person and incredible musician! Also the fastest typist on a phone I've ever seen in my life.

[@sqredreaper]

It's all fun and games until the labels start buying all the rights up.

[@darkskinwhite]

theres 2 problems related to music that I see 1 is even if we know what's AI and not everytime perception still fails. if fake drake says something enough times I'm gonna associate it w real drake and 2. music wont die itll be more music than ever but will people care for new artists beyond a short moment? can an artist hope to have cultural impact and go into the history books? I dont have the answers to these questions

[@TheCompanyMan]

If fake Drake is operating without real Drake consent, sue him and his creators until the legal catches up. If people like ai music more than the original, does it matter if the artist it’s copying is still receiving royalty rights?

[@UnhealthyVegan]

I immediately wondered if AI could help with artist who passed away. We all know 2pac was a hard worker and wrote so many verses. Well if he has unspoken verses, couldn't AI voice just record those verses? They are techincally 2pacs words. Couldn't his estate get the money off of those streams? Would it be dope? I don't know. But what I do know is dope is that new Codefendents record. I love the entire project and can't wait to hear more of them and hopefully D.O.C. and his current voice cuz it goes so well with their music

[@Abc4pepper]

My friend Fat Mike of NOFX just put D.O.C on the Codefendants track.. Love D.O.C.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Fat Mike's the illest. Homie's hilarious. True one of a kind.

[@EHeroClayman]

When it comes to A.I. I see the positives and negatives. Just have to figure out ways to make sure we can distinguish the real from the artificial. What that may be, I don't have the answers to that question. One verse that stuck out to me was Jadakiss on Dope Money with Styles P. Kiss said if I lose my voice, I'll flow online. That captivated my imagination wondering how he would do that. We more A.I. Drake rapping his on diss tracks or A.I. Pac talking about how much he hates PS5 scammers.

[@TheCompanyMan]

I haven't heard any a.i. anything that sounds dope to me. A lot of people are good at rapping like drake. But they can't make the next Drake. There's too much humanity for a.i. to surpass. The entire models are based off past patterns.

[@EHeroClayman]

@@TheCompanyMan Agreed there my brother. While computers can make sentences like you and I, all those words are just that words. When we computers understand complexities that humans deal with or algorithms that make those sentences more than sentences, we'll see the stuff we're currently seeing. Also, I wouldn't put it past those companies or individuals you talked about in the video to push the envelope further. Always appreciate our discussions my brother. I always appreciate your perspective and helps me better understand where others feel about things.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@EHeroClayman Thanks, EHC. I think anyone worried about their likeness being stolen now should hit their lawyer and include ai in all their contracts. copyright their voice. Be protected, but be on the side of innovation because no one's going to shut ai off.

[@ReedMySole]

I like the Doc reference. Other than that, nah. Capitalism will destroy the good things that will come from these advancements. The companies buying up catalogs makes a lot more sense now.

[@TheCompanyMan]

We’re here now. Can’t go back. I think the artists selling their catalogs have been short sighted in this respect. Hopefully the covenants of the contracts allow for the creators to own their voice.

[@ReedMySole]

@The Company Man what if the companies that bought the catalogs say you can't say any of these words that you said in these songs because we own your lyrics' rights to said song. It gets really sticky if you start to think how greed will play a role in all of this.

[@mraaronhd]

It shouldn’t be that hard for AI to sound like Drake since he already sounds like he’s been on automatic mode for like the past 7 years! Jump on trends, have guests spots, sound half-asleep in every song, whine about women, brag about the dumbest shit, just release singles, and make everything into a meme- Rinse, and repeat!

[@TheCompanyMan]

😂💀😂

[@michaelotis223]

lmao! Facts! And I'm a Drake fan!

[@ethanzebediah]

This is a great take. I’m personally pessimistic about how corporations may use AI to take more from artists. I think about how posthumous albums could become increasingly prevalent even while the artists’ families and estates receive none of the profits. That’s what worries me - who will own the rights to AI copied from their original creativity?

[@TheCompanyMan]

That's a legal issue which will be resolved one way or the other. It's like Dres from Blacksheep's 800 million class action lawsuit because they haven't received streaming royalties. That's gonna resolve itself one way or the other. I think this a great opportunity for true artists pushing art. License their image and likeness and make the stuff that doesn't exist yet.

[@ethanzebediah]

@@TheCompanyMan yeah as a lawyer I think that’s why these things come to mind for me lol.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@ethanzebediah Time for everyone to update their contracts.

[@ethanzebediah]

@@TheCompanyMan agreed!

[@redgenerall28]

Finally gonna get that Cole x Kendrick collab Seriously though My only concern with all that AI voice thing is how potentially harmful phone scamming could get. Or it could be used to "produce" evidence of something sketchy and damage someone's reputation (or worse). Especially combining with all that Twitter's frontier justice. Not to mention the potential for big government agencies like FBI or CIA. I'm just saying..it would be hella easier to fabricate an excuse for Iraq invasion But I'm being paranoid lol Great breakdown, sir 🫡

[@TheCompanyMan]

All those things happened before ai. Bad actors are gonna badly act. Including the fbi and cia. If we got it now, they’ve had it since flava of love

[@ajohnson5451]

I understand the somewhat small areas where it could possibly be convenient and helpful in the examples provided. But the AI we knew yesterday is not that of today. With it continually evolving without creators understanding or knowledge of its resources, who is to say that AI Drizzy will not supercede actually Drizzy with better execution and writing ability? While it's flakey now, how does is affect the smaller and growing artists that could be displaced when the avenue for the Frankenstien AI artists actually get good?! Would the masses allow these A(i)rtists to grow so much to where we want to replace these with the real thing? FN Meka x1000??? I don't have the answers to these questions.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Time for everybody to update their contracts and licensing. AI or otherwise, anyone can be sued

[@tommygoat5478]

The D.O.C! No one can do it better 🐐💪🏽💪🏽

[@El_Bukis]

I remember learning that some of the earliest AI models that were being made were for making music. Adam Neely has discussed AI music in various contexts in a couple of videos, and one of the things he talked about was how AI music was already advanced enough to compose music years ago. I think the most interesting possibility he discussed for AI music though was the possibilities it has for giving musicians back control of the creative commons. There's a guy who is using the AI model he developed to write as many melodies as he possibly can, and then publish and copyright them. There are restrictions he has to work with, but the point of him doing this is so that he can take his copyrighting melodies and basically put them in the public domain. It's his way of combatting the way the music industry is abusing copyright laws to sue musicians over elements that are common to all American music, and claiming it's something unique.

[@El_Bukis]

Also, just a few years ago Shinichiro Watanabe made an anime with his studio called Carole & Tuesday in which the first half of the story is about a music industry in which all music is written by AI. The main characters are among the few musicians left still writing music themselves.

[@akaerik1]

Except he didn't create them ai did

[@shortie9103]

Let's use A.I to bring back Leonard Hubbard and have him play with The Roots again

[@shortbus1127]

Two points I wanna make. AI is definitely dumbed down version, any real Hip Hop head can hear the difference in skill set and D.O.C is better than 50 cent😂

[@EmaManfred]

Who's ghostwriter to go against a music giant like UMG. Even if on a technicality, the song can be on music streaming. They could really go around the law with AIs which is why AIs started in the creative industry because of a lot loopholes in copyrights. However, I believe there are some changes and clarifications on copyrights since the rise of image generators like Bluewillow AI.

[@MosaicButterfly]

I'm honestly not looking forward to a future where these industries start to support A.I. generated "art" over human creations. These artforms, that I deeply love, will lose all its soul and weaken the (already distressed) ways in which we connect with one another. That's my little 2 cent doomsday prediction 😅

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out. But it’s here now. We have to reckon with it

[@ueharajunior21]

It sounds like A.I. can be used to resurrect a person's voice. Think about all of the people who have lost theirs.. It can be used as a tool, but it is indeed a dangerous one

[@langstoncollins3570]

I yet your point but once the labels make thier AI divisions ( and they will) it's gonna be get so much worse for artists. I get that its not going anywhere but I feel like this another example of technology that shouldn't have been made in the first place.

[@Grimstone]

A.I. will never take place of the "human" experience of creativity. Almost all A.I. streamline a path of creativity for those that lack the resources or artistic ability to make content. Embracing and controlling the avenues of A.I. will protect artists. Also, original artist participation in creative projects will elevate human created art to levels of near priceless art. A real "Drake" verse will be worth more than an A.I. generated verse. Real Rolex vs a fake Rolex.

[@TheCompanyMan]

BIGFAX! Great point about raising the value of human made art

[@mikemr..3602]

I had the screw face 😠 until I heard the D.O.C + Foxy Brown 🤔

[@TheCompanyMan]

There’s definitely upsides to a.i.

[@mikemr..3602]

@@TheCompanyMan Yea that's it tho !! It'll never replace real EMCEEING (will it) 🥺

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@mikemr..3602 NEVER. It's based on past creations. It can mimic future creativity, human evolution.

[@PabloHurtado1992]

I think there are plenty of artists making great music that even the idea of people listening to AI artists is ridiculous. There are countless incredible artists waiting to be discovered and I don't think people should be making music with artists likeness they themselves didn't create. I also would love to hear your thoughts on people wanting new AI music of dead artists like Mac, Nipsey, Prince, Selena, or Aaliyah, something I think is pretty gross and beyond disrespectful. I care less about big companies losing money than people making art and music that is not from a real person as far as the voice on the record. Great breakdown even if I disagree.

[@2totabon]

SAW HOLLY HERNDON AND WENT WOOOOOT

[@massadonking]

Please encourage D.O.C to use A.I to make new music!!!! Yeezus

[@drunkentre]

"People should not be able to take your name, image and likeness without permission. We have to add voice to this law," yet Jay-Z has been able to make a bigger name for himself by taking other people's names, lyrics and their "voice"! Roll on AI music. We can finally engineer a half decent Wish Bone solo album with vocals pre Art of War. In all seriousness, artists should license their voice to a service, you generate whatever you want to hear in low res and have to pay to download the high quality vocals with a percentage of whatever revenue generated from said tracks going to the artist. I'm sure filters can be implimented to not have it say certain things to start unfounded rumours, but there should also be a digital tag that says this is AI generated and is pure fiction.

[@TheCompanyMan]

"Roll on AI music. We can finally engineer a half decent Wish Bone solo album with vocals pre Art of War." 😂😂😂 Great point on licensing. Holly's already doing that so it's currently possible. All of this is gonna happen anyway because all of this is happening now. Fighting it physically or intellectually is futile.

[@Avernalism]

man....this is such a bummer video to see as an artist.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Why do you say that? A.i. is a powerful tool.

[@Avernalism]

@@TheCompanyMan A powerful tool for consumers that disregards the artist because the tool is agnostic and has no morals. It can make some interesting things in a vacuum but its uses by the tech industry and major companies is nothing short of ghoulish and robbery. We cant roll back time or put toothpaste in the tube but how many societal issues have we said that about? Gun control? etc... Not to think of how its been used in inappropriate sexual ways or how it could be used for disinformation and manipulation of the news. I just hate pretending its a foregone conclusion that we have to be okay with this, or that every innovation is something inevitable we have to accept. Depends on the product. Maybe it's the future, but we all get some kinda say in that

[@potts995]

I love these AI tools. The people who think this is all just a soulless endeavor dismiss all of the people and effort that go into this project. AI or no AI, at the end of the day, we are still talking about humans who will be impacted in the processes.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Pete Rocks comment sounds wild to me. His career is literally based on sampling other people’s sounds and voices. It’s weird to me he came out against it.

[@a_real_one2000]

Dope & needed video. We need to imagine the possibilities of world/society beyond the current. Society that’s help us all collectively & not just a few rich elites. lol To answer what’s universal problem they haven’t figure out how to monopolize A.I tech to make all the money yet. A.I or any tech can be boon to artistic expression & allow all to benefit or it only focus on how it can be profitable to high lvl executives/ billionaires.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Your last point is the elephant in the room. These cats are worried about being able to control future profits. They operated the same way at the advent of cryptocurrency

[@saewutséhuh]

Answer to your final question: “Emphatically” Yes!

[@meechieboii16]

If AI could bring Beanie Siegel and DOC back , I'm ok with that

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s all happening

[@187robthemob4]

The DOC thing changed my mind about AI

[@Axiohm000]

It's a wrap. It's John Henry 2023. Man vs The Algorithm and AI.

[@drevandamva]

Shouldn’t ai be categorized as parody and thus protected

[@RealLaone]

Zeus will have to explain over and over again that "Draking" mixtape came before the AI wave and has nothing to do with it... Aries Spears was the AI before AI... ATO will get a tough time releasing music if the rest of his songs sound like Kanye West like he does in Naive.

[@TheCompanyMan]

There’s so much mimicry in music already. This is just a tool

[@RealLaone]

@@TheCompanyMan exactly! Though the ones I've listed were made for different purposes, as Draking was a just a conceptual mixtape with Zeus spitting on Drake beats, Aries Spears did Snoop, LL and Jay for comedy purposes and ATO I think it's just a coincidence ( only heard one song). There should be a place to draw the line like how there was a guy back in the day attempting to be Lil Wayne in everything he does, before Wayne called him out. AI gonna be fun when there's a disclaimer around it and used to explore concepts like that Jay Z song by AllttA or by ghostwriters to get reference songs to artists. But it'll need to be away from people who wanna be someone else, or put words into artists mouths that the artists could get cancelled for. I think artists would need to approve for their voices being used.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@RealLaone 100%. That's without question. Artists in the 70s and 80s sued corporations for using soundalikes in their commercials. The same will happen here. All new technology is used for nefarious reasons as well. I don't see the point on hating and banning something thats already here and isn't going away.

[@RealLaone]

@@TheCompanyMan that's true, its like autotune, the gotta find a way to ride the wave because its here to stay. One thing for sure, it'll expose whether people actually like an artist's song or they just like them from the hype and peer pressure when anyone can become the artist, artists will have to reach deeper in their creative pockets and verify its really them. Hopefully they won't just buy songs that sounds like them and start performing those as thier own, but it can run if that's what the fans want as you said in the vid that it gives most artists a chance.

[@TheHENpp]

I have been telling people "just calm down" and "it's not the end of the world" when they go all doomsayer on AI music. Leave it to @TheCompanyMan to not only go the opposite direction but hit really close to my heart the potential for new D.O.C. music with the 1988-89 D.O.C. voice.

[@TheCompanyMan]

He DM’d me today about this video actually. He’s got some ideas. Can’t wait to hear them.

[@Journeyman89]

Maybe this way now we can get Drakes diss to Pusha T

[@TheCompanyMan]

😂😂😂

[@Journeyman89]

@@TheCompanyMan Props to you longevity

[@unknownflapjack7O7]

We need a new breakdown 👀

[@62davelee]

Sounds like the wonders of technology saved DOC's life.

[@TheCompanyMan]

Exactly.

[@BluEx22329]

I guess we can finally get that kendrick cole album

[@theunbotheredson]

cant you say the same about that em music video where they was in a factory and a bunch of eminems was on an assembly line🤔

[@groalerable]

that mf posting cardi b every thread got to have AI

[@leroygreen6310]

There is the issue of A.I starting to make better music then the artist too though and at that point they may get pushed out by a machine cause humans can't make songs in seconds like A.I can.

[@TheCompanyMan]

That'll raise the value of real music. Humanity evolves. It pushes forward creatively.

[@leroygreen6310]

@@TheCompanyMan Maybe but imo it takes some of the appreciation away when you develop a style of the course of years and then someone using an A.I maybe able to duplicate that in seconds but I hear you.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@leroygreen6310 Sampling critics said the same thing.

[@leroygreen6310]

@@TheCompanyMan An instrument is one thing but the human voice? When we know there's no soul behind the voice we're hearing its not gonna hit the same imo.

[@TheCompanyMan]

@@leroygreen6310 We'll have to wait and see because most of the stuff now is people making the songs and putting another voice on top of it. I think it'll be easier for artists when theres no soul in the ai. Real art will increase in value.

[@chinbeats6551]

Finally someone breaking it down the right way, no one else knows what they're talking about lmao

[@rorynoone5025]

Great call on the industry crushing innovation. Goes to show when you are incredible wealthy and powerful it is extremely difficult to see beyond preserving the status quo. I think it's a little funny all the hoopla over what are essentially impressions done by computers. Like arguably one of the best hooks of all time is just Jamie Foxx doing a Ray Charles impression. What would truly be the difference if you found out it was an AI on Gold Digger instead of Foxx. What disturbs me is how people always describe the impact of AI in terms of jobs lost and not in terms of increased value generated for society with less labor. Speaks volumes that we can only imagine the excess wealth being concentrated in the hands of of the elite when it could obviously also be redistributed or applied to the betterment of society. It's like we have all the parts for a Utopia, but we only have the Ikea instructions for a Dystopia.

[@TheCompanyMan]

A.I. is a great opportunity for UBI. Congress already proposed a 4 day weekend. It's all happening

[@traplover6357]

Personally think people making AI songs of other artists only hurts certain artists that stick to one style/sound. My favorite example is how so many Carti stans created fan-made songs before AI (such as Mario Judah making his own version of WLR) before WLR actually came out with a totally different sound. [Reminder that these original AI songs are still like 90%+ human involved as of now (songwriting, beat production, actual singing/rapping) outside of AI training on vocal samples to create an artist vocal filter like how autotune is a vocal filter.]

[@TheCompanyMan]

Artists who push the margins of creativity will thrive in this environment.

[@tommygoat5478]

Shit I think Lloyd Banks should be using A.I

[@mrduckett4006]

I enjoyed this. AI is the real metaverse

[@TheCompanyMan]

Thanks MD

[@alistairlacaille]

Canibus did Poet Laureate Infinity like 20 years ago. Son already saw where this was going while y'all was still worried about Terminators.

[@Kamen1]

People act like if they talk bad about it that it will go away or if we destroy it, life will be better.

[@TheCompanyMan]

It’s here to stay. Been here for a long time.

[@MarcusGreen-bc1ef]

I wish the d.o.c ai one more album ( Dre production)

[@OLD-FRESH-FUNKY_HIPHOP]

Dammed if you do , Dammed if you don't 🫤

[@alexfahnestalk7469]

AI ain't gonna be the end of art. Capitalism been deteriorating it for decades before AI appeared

[@TheCompanyMan]

Exactly. So many things were supposed to kill society or kill the industry or kill art. A.I will make things easier

[@bushidobot8251]

Think how much more music 2Pac’s going to have now!!