Kehlani's Purist Stand on A.I. Is a Wake-Up Call for Creatives
Kehlani sees where the industry is headed-and refuses to pretend that every A.I. use case belongs in art. In a new conversation on Real 92.3's The Cruz Show, they made it clear: tools can help, but the craft matters more.
"Technology is always going to advance, but I just believe in purity to the arts." They support access and opportunity, yet point to a cost creatives know too well: erosion of the human work behind the music.
The Line: Tools vs. Authorship
Kehlani isn't anti-tool. They're against replacing the hands, ears, and taste that make records feel alive. Their stance pushes a simple truth: if a tool erases the skill and credit of the people who build culture, it's not progress-it's subtraction.
Who Gets Overlooked First
Kehlani calls out the real team behind every song: mixers, engineers, producers, instrumentalists. They also nod to photographers and cover designers-roles often sidelined by quick A.I. outputs. This isn't nostalgia. It's about protecting the value chain that gives a project its identity.
The Xania Monet Flashpoint
They recently challenged the rise of A.I.-led projects after Xania Monet's "How Was I Supposed to Know" hit strong positions on Billboard's Digital Song Sales charts. Kehlani's take was blunt: A.I. can generate the whole track-vocals, lyrics, beat-and that breaks the social contract with the people who do this for real.
"Nothing and no one on Earth will ever be able to justify A.I. to me, especially not A.I. in the creative arts... I'm sorry I don't respect it."
What This Means for Your Practice
- Keep humans at the center. Use tools for speed, not authorship. Let your taste and process lead.
- Defend credits and compensation. If a tool displaces a human role, decide if that aligns with your values-and your brand.
- Draw your line publicly. State your A.I. policy on your site, EPK, and credits. Make expectations clear for collaborators and brands.
- Protect your materials. Use contracts that restrict training on your stems, sessions, vocals, and artwork.
- Double down on the irreplaceable. Style, live energy, nuance, and taste are your moat.
Practical Moves You Can Make This Week
- Add an A.I. clause to agreements. Example: "No audio, visual, or textual assets from this project may be used to train or fine-tune machine learning models without explicit written consent."
- Standardize credit delivery. Send a credits sheet with every mix/master. Make it easy to list everyone-from assistant engineers to cover designers.
- Publish your process page. Outline how you work, where tools fit, and what remains human. This builds trust with clients and fans.
- Use provenance tools. Explore content credentials/watermarking so your work can be traced back to you.
- Define your A.I. boundaries. Pre-production? Fine. Final vocals, core compositions, or cover art? Your call-state it clearly.
- Invest in live and community. The more your audience connects with your work in person and in real time, the less swappable you are.
Context Creatives Should Track
- Industry rules on A.I. and eligibility are shifting. See the Recording Academy's guidance on A.I. and awards: what counts, what doesn't.
If You're Exploring A.I. Without Losing the Craft
Use tools to speed drafts, reference sounds, or iterate ideas-then finish with your ear, your team, and your taste. If you want structured options for job-specific learning without replacing the creative core, browse these resources:
Kehlani's stance isn't anti-future-it's pro-craft. As the tech gets louder, the work gets simpler: protect your credits, sharpen your taste, and make things only you can make.
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