Miss Me With Your Fake Outrage About Artists Using AI

I'm not here for your fake outrage or your down-the-street, discount-bin activism when it comes to creatives using AI.

So, the other day I’m on Instagram, and I see that one of my favorite groups of all time, Public Enemy, who are goated in my book, dropped some new music. I’m like, okay, this could be interesting. Then I watch the video. And instantly, I can tell. It’s AI. Done badly by AI. Not even trying to hide it. The video? Trash. Let me be the first to say it. Absolute garbage. But you know what? They’re still one of my GOATs. So I’m not mad that they dropped something. In fact, good for them for still putting out music, even now. Then I looked in the comments. And what do I see? The usual parade of people, most of them not artists themselves, talking trash about them using AI.

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When was the last time you supported them?

Here’s my question. When was the last time you bought a Public Enemy album? When was the last time you streamed one of their songs? Went to a show? Bought a t-shirt? Bought anything? You say they’re legends. That they were the soundtrack to your childhood. Cool. So when’s the last time you spent money on them? Odds are, it’s been decades. Because in terms of the mainstream music industry, PE hasn’t been “relevant” in a long time.

But guess what? They’re still artists. They still get the itch. Still want to create. But they don’t have the kind of budget they used to have when they were signed to a major. So what do they do? They use what’s available. AI.

Are there legit critiques?

Yes.

Now is it perfect? Nah. Is it controversial? Sure. Are there legit critiques to be made? Absolutely.

Let’s talk about one of them; how AI affects the environment. That’s real. That’s valid. The computing power behind it? Massive. The energy consumption? Not small.

But you know what else hurts the environment? Your car. Your air conditioning. The phone you charge every night. The fast fashion you rock twice then throw out. The ten Amazon packages you order in a week. All of that comes with a carbon cost.

Yet I don’t see the same energy. I don’t see you shaming people in the comments for using Uber. I don’t see you dragging folks for driving to brunch. So why is this where you plant your moral flag? Let’s not pretend this is about the environment. If it were, your lifestyle would look real different.

The outrage is performative

But let me tell you what’s foul. All this armchair outrage when artists use this tech just to keep creating. Y’all are out of line.

Here’s the truth. Big corporations are gonna use AI no matter how you feel. You can rant, cry, boycott, repost infographics. Won’t change a thing. You know it, I know it. And all this talk about AI “robbing” artists? Let’s not pretend like people haven’t been uploading their art willingly to the internet for years. For exposure. For community. For the shot of being seen. That’s what built this system. And now suddenly everybody’s concerned?

PE, Chuck, Flav, the whole crew are artists too. And you better believe their voices, images, and energy were part of the data that trained some of these models. So if anybody has a right to use the tool, it’s them.

Let's talk about your phone

You say you're “defending artists.” Cool. Let me ask you this. Are you gonna stop using your cell phone? Because that little miracle in your pocket? That took exploited labor and blood minerals from the Congo. Strip-mined land. Underpaid workers. Children dying so you can text and post memes. But I don’t see you giving that up.

You virtue signal when it's convenient. Meanwhile, the same starving artists you swear you're defending? Most of them don’t even live off their art. Let’s be honest. Most artists? Got day jobs. Got bills. Their art isn’t paying for any of that. Either they don’t have the reach, or they’re still figuring it out, or the system’s just rigged against them. So spare me the tears about artists getting “robbed.”

PE has lived off their art. For decades. And now that the big label checks dried up, they're trying to keep it going. Keep it moving. But the moment they use something new to save money? Y’all ready to crucify them.

The history of tech is built on exploitation

And let’s zoom out for a second. The entire history of technology is built on exploitation. Stolen patents. Miscredited inventors. People who didn’t invent a damn thing getting rich because they filed paperwork first. You mad now because artists are trying to survive the same way everyone else always has? Every time something new drops, people scream. Then they adapt. Every. Single. Time.

You complain about the same seven companies...

Then you turn around and complain about why the same seven companies control all the IP. Why all we get is the same rebooted content every year. This is why. Because anytime smaller creators get access to something powerful, y’all kill it with your think pieces and mob outrage.

But you'll still go see Superman

And since we're talking IP, let’s keep it real for a second. How many of you are gonna go see Superman? Yeah, me too. I’ve got thoughts, but that’s not what this is about right now. How many times have you already seen Superman? Oh, maybe not this version, but they’ve made how many? Same goes for Batman. Over and over again.

Now look. I love comic book movies. But let’s call it what it is. It’s repackaged content. Same characters, new coat of paint. And they keep doing it for one reason. Access.

DC. Marvel. Warner Brothers. Disney. These companies don’t just own IP. They own infrastructure. Marketing machines. Distribution pipelines. Funding. They’ve got access. They’re the ones you’re always complaining about, feeding us sequels, reboots, and the same tired plots.

Indie creators don't have that

But here’s the thing. Indie creators can’t break through. Not because they aren’t dope. Not because they aren’t creative. But because they don’t have that level of reach or pop culture saturation.

And now some new tools come along. Tools that could actually help level the playing field. Help indie creators market, publish, promote without million-dollar budgets. And what do you do? You demonize them for using the tools. All while still complaining that you’re getting the same reheated stories from the same megacorps. Pick a struggle.

What's Your Take?

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