Chapter 1: The Rise of FN Meka

FN Meka was poised to become a significant figure in the entertainment world. Industry insiders saw him as an emerging star, checking off all the boxes for imminent success: a TikTok following exceeding nine million, a trio of well-performing songs, and collaborations with various artists. His aesthetic, inspired by the SoundCloud scene, featured brightly colored hair and facial tattoos, complemented by a lifestyle ideal for Instagram, including a Gucci-covered Tesla and a Louis Vuitton stroller. While his music echoed that of his contemporaries without innovating, his persona was presented as a fresh wave of creativity.

In reality, FN Meka was a virtual creation. As the first AI-driven rapper, he successfully marketed NFTs and utilized TikTok to assess his musical viability. Not only was he a rapper, but he also functioned as a virtual influencer, racking up billions of views and creating lucrative opportunities for brand partnerships.

Capitol Records seemed astute in signing FN Meka, describing him as "the world's first A.R. artist to sign with a major label." The label aimed to showcase its openness to technological advancements, recognizing the growing intersection of music and gaming. Ryan Ruden, the vice president of experiential marketing and business development at Capitol, characterized the FN Meka project as a glimpse into the future of "music, technology, and gaming culture."

However, in its eagerness to be a pioneer, Capitol Records overlooked historical lessons. FN Meka, despite his virtual novelty, was likened to a modern minstrel, accused of engaging in a digital form of blackface. He represented a distorted caricature of a Black man, appropriating a rich cultural legacy for commercial gain.

The backlash against FN Meka was immediate and intense, not just directed at the flashy digital figure but also for the real Black artists whose efforts contributed to his rise.

In conjunction with announcing FN Meka’s debut, Capitol released his first single, "Flood Water." Almost instantly, critics condemned the label for the overt racial stereotypes associated with its virtual rapper. The advocacy group Industry Blackout issued a statement, denouncing FN Meka as "a direct insult to the Black community and our culture," pointing to the amalgamation of harmful stereotypes and appropriated behaviors from Black artists, complete with derogatory language in the lyrics.

In response to the uproar, Capitol Records quickly terminated its partnership with FN Meka. After dropping their first virtual artist, the label issued an apology, expressing regret for their insensitivity in signing a project without thoroughly considering equity and creative processes involved.

Chapter 2: The Implications of AI in Music

FN Meka’s misstep is particularly surprising given Capitol Records' history of nuanced representation in the music industry. The label has successfully nurtured the careers of both established icons like Babyface and rising talents like Mooski. While some of their artists unabashedly showcase material wealth, others incorporate the N-word in their lyrics as a means of reclaiming agency over a term that has historically oppressed them. Jay-Z, in defense of his lyrical choices, articulated the idea that by using the term, they were taking "the pin out of the grenade."

FN Meka, however, was a collective project rather than an individual expression. Created from "thousands of data points" derived from video games and social media, FN Meka was engineered for commercial success. His catchy tracks were partly crafted through AI technology and compiled from existing musical elements. Factory New, the 'virtual' record label responsible for FN Meka, guided the artist's TikTok presence and NFT release before officially launching any music.

Despite the intention to succeed, FN Meka's reliance on superficial markers of success ultimately led to his downfall. Data points do not absolve creators of accountability; our datasets reflect human biases as well.

The music industry has historically confined artists within rigid genres, making it easier for A&R executives to market them while stifling genuine expression. Flashy music videos showcasing opulence are often as much a product of industry expectations as they are of an artist's personal choice. Even as artists increasingly collaborate across genres, these categories still carry weight.

FN Meka’s creation, however, felt hollow. His music failed to encapsulate the Black artist’s historical struggle against oppression or the minority performer’s quest for visibility. Lacking authentic experience, FN Meka's existence questioned whether the contributions of Black artists can truly be reduced to mere data points.

AI technology, while capable of remarkable creativity, is not immune to the societal biases it inherits. Training AI involves large datasets that often encode discriminatory practices. For example, machine learning systems have been found to underrepresent people of color in medical predictions. AI has facilitated housing discrimination through targeted marketing and has influenced judicial decisions regarding recidivism rates among Black individuals.

Unfortunately, regulatory frameworks have not kept pace with technological advancements. As long as human actions inform machine learning datasets, biases will persist. Experts suggest that rather than aiming to eliminate bias—which may be as unattainable as eradicating human prejudice—we should focus on actively recognizing and addressing discrimination.

Discrimination in cultural contexts is just as critical as in institutional decision-making. FN Meka’s imagery has drawn parallels to blackface, where white performers donned black paint to perpetuate dehumanizing stereotypes for entertainment. This practice not only caused deep-seated trauma within the Black community but also fostered misunderstandings among white audiences who believed they understood a culture they never engaged with.

Historically, Frederick Douglass condemned blackface performers as "the filthy scum of white society," who exploited a complexion denied to them by nature for profit.

Chapter 3: Toward a More Equitable Future

Unfortunately, it often takes a member of a marginalized group to educate others about offensive stereotypes. As AI developers face evidence of bias, experts advocate for more diverse teams to help mitigate these issues. Given that tech executives are predominantly white and male, having a varied team could enhance the understanding of racial and cultural nuances, thereby improving the outcomes of AI applications.

Yet a diverse team cannot completely shield an algorithm from inherent flaws. The creators of FN Meka, who were people of color, aimed for inclusivity. However, the project's failure raises concerns about the effectiveness of these intentions. FN Meka was engineered for success, with its creators intending to spotlight a roster of digital artists who could excel in a competitive landscape. Factory New founder Anthony Martini noted that while record labels invest heavily in discovering talent, the success rate remains dismally low.

Although marketed as a virtual artist, FN Meka represented a collaboration between AI technology and human creativity. In the aftermath of FN Meka’s decline, rapper Kyle the Hooligan revealed that he had created FN Meka's successful tracks and lent his voice to the project. He alleged that Factory New had promised him equity in FN Meka but ultimately ghosted him after their initial collaboration.

Kyle the Hooligan further claimed that another individual provided vocals for the songs, though that person has yet to be identified. Despite his initial enthusiasm about engaging with AI technology, he argues that FN Meka's success rested on his contributions. He lamented that Factory New had "used [him] for the culture."

Even with their shortcomings, Factory New’s creators understood one fundamental truth: the odds are stacked against most artists. Many musicians struggle to earn a sustainable living from streaming, and the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the live music sector. Once-promising NFTs have also seen a sharp decline.

Artists’ willingness to invest their talents into avatars reflects a desire to embrace new technologies and achieve success but also indicates desperation. There is a growing sentiment that traditional paths for artists may lead to dead ends, suggesting that mere talent may no longer suffice. Martini argued that the industry inherently strips away an artist's personhood, asking, "What is an 'artist' today?"

As artists continue exploring innovative avenues for expression, AI development teams will likewise rely on human creativity to imbue authenticity into their algorithms. This evolving relationship could be fraught with challenges, where artists might risk being subsumed by the final product, leaving AI to inherit humanity's more troubling tendencies.

The music industry has a long-standing history of using ghostwriters—often emerging songwriters whose work supports established artists. These anonymous creators are vulnerable to exploitation, receiving one-time payments without recognition or eligibility for awards. Many songwriters view ghostwriting as a profitable option, often seen as an apprenticeship, and may be more open to AI collaborations due to this established practice.

However, the inherent biases in AI might make such collaborations precarious. While a ghostwriter aims to embody another artist, the opaque datasets that inform machine learning technologies can obscure the true nature of contributions. If an artist’s involvement is disclosed, it could lead to their name being linked to a stereotype, transforming the collaboration into a risky endeavor.

Since the FN Meka controversy, Martini has departed from Factory New and distanced himself from the project. He remarked to The New York Times, "If you're mad about the lyrical content because it supposedly was A.I., why not be mad about the lyrical content in general?"

Indeed, FN Meka's lyrics, themes, sound, and appearance have a distorted, yet real, connection to the world. The implications of the FN Meka incident extend beyond the music industry, suggesting that all sectors should perform thorough audits of their AI technologies to ensure they are not perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

Ultimately, it may take a robot to inspire us to reflect on the kind of people we aspire to be.