🎶 2022-08-24 00:39:00 – Paris/France.
Capitol Records has "severed ties" with recently signed AI rapper FN Meka, who has come under scrutiny after clips of the project using the N-word went viral. Social media users also pointed to a photo shared on one of Meka's accounts showing the rapper in scenes of police brutality. As Consequence points out, no one in the team behind FN Meka is black.
"CMG has severed ties with the FN Meka Project, effective immediately," read the statement from Capitol, shared by The New York Times' Joe Coscarelli. “We sincerely apologize to the black community for our insensitivity to sign off on this project without asking enough questions about fairness and the creative process behind it. We thank those who provided us with constructive feedback over the past two days – your input was invaluable when we made the decision to end our association with the project.
Earlier in August, Capitol announced that the virtual rapper and influencer would be signed to the label, describing the "AI-powered robot rapper" as "the world's first AR artist to sign with a major label." The bot's single "Florida Water" featured Gunna (who is currently in jail for RICO) and gaming streamer Clix.
Hours before Capitol made its announcement, activist organization Blackout shared a statement asking the label to cut ties with FN Meka, noting Gunna's involvement in the face of RICO's accusations and calling the project "a fusion of stereotypes." rude”. Here is their full statement:
It has come to our attention that your company has decided to partner with Factory New to sign the artificially engineered "rapper" FN Meka. While we applaud innovation in technology that connects listeners to music and enhances the experience, we find fault with the lack of awareness of how offensive this cartoon is. This is a direct insult to the black community and our culture. An amalgamation of crude stereotypes, appropriative ways that derive from black artists, with insults infused into the lyrics.
This digital effigy is a negligent and disrespectful abomination to real people who face real consequences in real life. For example, Gunna, a black artist who features on a song with FN Meka, is currently incarcerated for rapping the same type of lyrics that this robot mimics. The difference is that your artificial rapper will not face federal charges for it.
For your company to endorse this shows a serious lack of diversity and a resounding amount of tone-deaf leadership is simply unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
We demand that this partnership be terminated, that an official public apology be issued, that FN Meka be removed from all platforms. Additionally, all funds spent by Capitol Records and Factory New on this project will be allocated to charities that directly support black youth in the arts, as well as marketing budgets for black artists signed with Capitol Records. We look forward to your response and compliance.
SOURCE: Reviews News
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