In an interview with DJUTV, Beanie Sigel revealed he's working on a new project that utilizes artificial intelligence.
"New project coming soon... I think I found a good friend with this AI thing," the Philly rapper shared at the 52:30 point of the interview, as seen below. "A lot of people frown on AI, but I think that’s gonna work for me. ... I've had a colorful life, so I've been through things that hindered my [voice].”
The host interjected to ask if the intention was to use AI to help create music where his voice would sound similar to his older stuff, and he confirmed as such. "Real soon, too... It's definitely for me," he continued. "I was talking to somebody and they told me how you program the AI—you run the vocals through this... Y’all want, what they say, the ‘old Beans’ back? ‘Cause the pen’s still there. It's just the voice. If y'all want that, I'ma shoot y'all something. So I'm gonna use AI on myself."
The last time Sigel dropped a project was in 2012 with This Time, which was released just before he served a two-year prison sentence for tax evasion.
While some artists, such as Grimes, have fully embraced the use of AI in their music, it remains a controversial topic for many. Earlier this year, a report from Vice and Motherboard showed that fans were being scammed into paying thousands of dollars for fake Frank Ocean songs using an AI model featuring his voice.
Other industries, particularly the film and TV industries, have sounded the alarm on the use of AI. The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which have brought Hollywood productions to a standstill, have highlighted the concerns of talents behind and in front of the camera.
Director James Cameron, who made two of the best films about the dangers of AI with the first two Terminator films, is also unhappy with the developments in the AI space. “I absolutely share their concern of, you know, I warned you guys in 1984 and you didn’t listen,” he said earlier this month. "I mean, you’ve got to follow the money of who’s building these things, right? They’re either building it to dominate market shares—so what are you teaching it? greed—or you’re building it for defensive purposes so you’re teaching it paranoia.”
