NEW YORK, USA — Hip-Hop icon 50 Cent has sparked heated debate after unveiling AI-generated reworks of his classic hits, transforming them into soulful, Motown-inspired renditions — and he’s standing firm in defence of his creative experiment.
The G-Unit mogul recently shared artificial intelligence–driven versions of his songs “21 Questions” and “God Gave Me Style” on Instagram, recast with smooth, 1960s-style instrumentation and rich, vintage vocals. While some fans praised the nostalgic innovation, others dismissed the project as “tacky” and “unnecessary,” reigniting tensions around AI’s growing role in music production.
Unfazed by the criticism, 50 Cent doubled down on his artistic choice. “I really like those songs!” he told Complex. “It will reach someone that I missed. Someone who couldn’t hear what I was trying to say in the writing can hear it now in that format. They’ll go, ‘Oh, yo! Play that again!’”
He went on to commend the AI-generated vocals that gave the reworks their distinctive sound. “I don’t know where AI got these voices from, but these are some good voices! If these guys came out in that time period, they’d have been competition for the greats.”
As the music industry grapples with AI’s expanding influence, 50 Cent made it clear he’s embracing the technology rather than resisting it. “I don’t like fighting fights I can’t win,” he said. “You can’t beat AI. We need to figure out how to build business models that work with it, move faster, and evolve as AI evolves — because it’s not going to stop progress.”
His comments come amid growing division among artists. While figures like Kehlani have warned about AI’s threat to creative authenticity, others — including Gunna and will.i.am — view it as a revolutionary tool. Will.i.am has even floated the concept of AI-powered Verzuz-style battles between rap legends such as Jay-Z and Black Thought.
For 50 Cent, the experiment is less about controversy and more about staying ahead of the curve — proving, once again, that he’s never been afraid to innovate in the face of criticism.
— AllHipHop.com
