Multiculturalism, Culture Vulturism, and Why the Latest AI Loves Drake
It has been a rough few weeks for Drake in the news. The internet has been following the Canadian rapper’s lyrical battle with Kendrick Lamar and other rap producers. Then, this week, another AI-generated song copying Drake’s voice, Wah Gwan Delilah, has also made headlines. The song is a version of the 2007 Plain White Tees song Hey There Delilah and features a blend of Canadian and Caribbean cultural references that Drake is known for.
This song adds insult to injury in many ways because this is not the first time that Drake’s voice and lyricism have been used to generate hip-hop artificially. Additionally, Drake has used AI in his music to mixed reviews and ethical concerns.
Despite the criticism, Drake has openly embraced these fakes, posting them on his social media accounts and boosting their popularity. As a result, many other artists have used these songs to critique the rapper’s style and authenticity.
