Doja Cat Unleashes Savage Verbal Attack on Tyga Over AI Use on New Album!
Tyga has stirred controversy by admitting to using artificial intelligence on his new '80s-inspired album, <em>$starface</em>, drawing sharp criticism from artists like Doja Cat. Tyga defends AI as a legitimate technological tool, comparable to AutoTune, for creating specific sounds while maintaining his own vocal and writing contributions. This debate extends to other artists like Fenix Flexin, underscoring the music industry's ongoing struggle with integrating new technologies.
Rapper Tyga has recently ignited a significant debate within the music industry following his candid admission of utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of his latest album, $tarface. This revelation has drawn a wave of criticism, most notably from fellow artist Doja Cat, who delivered a rather peculiar and explicit insult during a livestream on Wednesday, August 12.
Doja Cat, reflecting on her experience seeing her “Juicy” collaborator employ AI as a creative tool on his ’80s-inspired project, stated, “Nobody asked me anything about Tyga, but I felt like saying this. Tyga is a penis for making an AI album.” This strong reaction underscores the contentious nature of AI's growing presence in artistic endeavors.
Despite the current friction, Tyga and Doja Cat share a history of successful collaborations. Tyga notably contributed to Doja Cat’s “Juicy” remix in 2019, which marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 41. They later reunited in 2022 for the track “Freaky Deaky,” which reached No. 43 on the charts.
With $tarface, Tyga made a distinct creative pivot, venturing into a disco pop-leaning sound and introducing a new alter ego. In an interview with VIBE earlier in August, Tyga confirmed his use of AI on the album, specifically for generating “’80s synths” and a “guitar solo.” He defended this choice, comparing AI to the initial integration of AutoTune in hip-hop. “It’s supposed to give you an experience and a feeling. But we definitely used AI as a [tool],” he explained. “And I know people are going to be mad about me saying this, but it’s where technology is going. It’s no different than when AutoTune came out. Some people were opposed to it, but real artists took it and used it.” Tyga further clarified, emphasizing his continued creative involvement: “But as far as the writing, all the vocals are all me. There’s nothing wrong with using technology as a tool.”
Tyga is not an isolated case in facing scrutiny for incorporating AI into music production. Shoreline Mafia’s Fenix Flexin also encountered criticism for his ’80s-fueled track “RUBBERZ.” Initially, Flexin denied using AI, but later admitted to its use in an Instagram comment. He clarified, “Never said I didn’t use AI, I said it had nun to do [with the] recording process. I didn’t even know what da app was till we mixed it and [everybody] started commenting. Ain’t nothing wrong [with] using new technology as a tool. Keep up [with] the times or get left behind.” This sentiment echoes Tyga's defense, highlighting the perspective that AI is simply an evolving technological tool that artists should embrace or risk being left behind in a rapidly advancing industry.