NEWS
Young Guru, Jay-Z's engineer, joined fans and industry veterans alike bashing superproducer Timabaland announcement of launching an A.I. entertiainment label.
While longtime friends, Guru would share his thoughts on Timbo's involvement with artifical intelligance in a Instagram cover. Respectfully in disagreeance, Young Guru wrote the following:
"I'm going to say it again. I swear I love you bro but this ain't it. Do you not realize what is going on in the world. Your voice is powerful and way too important to do anything like this. I have students who worship you. They are going to say 'if Tim can do it, then it is ok for me to do it.' These are the times, right here, that history is defined.. Human expression can never be reduced to this!!! This is way bigger than music!!! I say this in all love."
In response, Timbaland shared a video featuring an AI-generated character who mocked critics. “Y’all crying about AI taking your spot, but your songs barely mix,” it joked, drawing more heat for its tone. Rapper Rexx Life Raj said, “Unc went out sad,” while Lauren Speed-Hamilton questioned AI’s growing grip on entertainment.
Doubling down, Timbaland posted a clip of music exec Ray Daniels defending the concept. Comparing Tata to cartoon icons like Mickey Mouse, Daniels claimed AI artists can sell music just like animated characters sell toys. Timbaland later clarified that he still collaborates with real artists and doesn’t train AI models on their work.
Despite his reassurances, the controversy continues. For critics like Guru, the debate isn’t just about tech—it’s about preserving the soul of music.
A.I. been creepin’ into hip-hop for a minute now. At first, it was just helpin' producers cook up beats and melodies with apps like Amper and Magenta. Then came the next-gen Auto-Tune, flippin’ voices like magic.
By the late 2010s, bots were spittin’ bars, copyin’ legends like ‘Pac and Em. Deepfakes took it further—fans makin’ ghost verses from dead or livin’ rappers. Kanye and Timbo tapped in heavy, but not everybody’s feelin’ it.
When Ghostwriter and Timbaland’s AI artist Tata dropped in 2023, it sparked real talk
NEWS
Zayn Malik said he truly enjoyed returning to a “pop” sound for his collaboration with BLACKPINK member Jisoo on their track “Eyes Closed.”
The former One Direction singer recently joined her on the ballad and called it a major “honour” to work with someone he considers one of the leading voices “owning that genre” right now.
Speaking while hosting a special hour on BBC Radio 1, he said, “I have drifted away from the pop sound for a bit, so coming back to it with the people who are basically owning that genre at the minute was an honour.”
He added, “If I can say thanks to Jisoo, I am really happy with the way it turned out.”
Zayn also shared that his “cool collaborator” helped him score some serious dad points with his five year old daughter Khai, whom he shares with his former partner, Gigi Hadid.
He wrote on Instagram while posting promo photos from the release, “@sooyaaa__ Jisoo.. you’re an absolute legend, loved every part of this collaboration, thank you for making me the coolest dad around.”
Jisoo replied, “You already are.”
Although he stepped back into pop for “Eyes Closed,” Zayn recently revealed that his next album incorporates influences from Indian music.
The “Pillowtalk” singer confirmed that his fifth studio album will arrive next year and hinted that it will carry a similar spirit to his chart topping 2016 solo debut Mind of Mine.
Zayn was quoted by The Sun’s Bizarre column during a livestream saying, “The next album is soon.”
“I have been working on some cool s*** in South Asian music and bringing those influences into my music as well.”
“It is like pop, R+B, and a lot of Indian influences. The record is like a continuation of Mind of Mine in that sense. I might have some songs coming out in Urdu, too.”
