This Rap Song is Written by AI — Would it Work in the Real World?

In recent months, the hip-hop community and many of its most popular faces have been formulating opinions of artificial intelligence’s role in the genre. Some artists like Timbaland and Snoop Dogg have embraced A.I.’s potential, while others like Ice Cube, will.i.am, and Drake have expressed concern.

But, one unique perspective on the matter came from Pharrell Williams in late April, who felt that AI advancements in music are just a part of human nature, and will be nearly impossible to stop. “Wake up, everybody. We’re here. And it’s only going to get deeper. It’s only going to get exponentially much wider than we can quantify… And at the end of the day, when you really look at it, the catalyst for all of this was human nature. We did this,” Williams said to Rolling Stone.

If Williams is correct in his assertion, then musicians, rappers, singers, and artists will all begin to employ AI to aid them in crafting their music. But, whether it’ll vocals or songwriting, AI’s capability needs to be up to the challenge. So, we decided to test if the technology is developed enough to write a rap song that would be successful in the year 2023.

Using ChatGPT, a software that uses AI to develop natural language, we asked its bot if it could write us a rap song. Here’s the song that the AI cooked up.

AI’s Rap Song

(Verse 1)
I step on the scene, microphone in my grip,
Spittin’ rhymes so hot, watch ’em start to flip.
I’m the lyrical maestro, call me the rhyme slayer,
Unleashin’ these words, watch me conquer and layer.

(Chorus)
I’m on a mission, spittin’ with precision,
Rappin’ through the rhythm, creatin’ my vision.
From the beats to the flows, we rock the show,
In this rap game, I’m ready to blow.

(Verse 2)
I’m a wordsmith, craftin’ lines with finesse,
My mind’s a canvas, watch me paint success.
I rhyme with passion, it’s embedded in my soul,
The beat drops hard as I take control.

I bring the fire, ignitin’ every verse,
My flow’s so smooth, it’s like a lyrical curse.
I ride the rhythm, surfin’ the wave,
Every word I drop, watch the crowd crave.

(Chorus)
I’m on a mission, spittin’ with precision,
Rappin’ through the rhythm, creatin’ my vision.
From the beats to the flows, we rock the show, I
n this rap game, I’m ready to blow.

(Verse 3)
I’m breakin’ boundaries, shatterin’ the norm,
Rappin’ with a purpose, my message is strong.
From the streets to the stage, I claim my spot,
My words resonate, connectin’ every dot.

I’m the voice of the unheard, speakin’ truths untold,
Through the power of rap, watch the story unfold.
I’m a storyteller, paintin’ pictures in your mind,
With each line I drop, the energy will bind.

(Chorus)
I’m on a mission, spittin’ with precision,
Rappin’ through the rhythm, creatin’ my vision.
From the beats to the flows, we rock the show,
In this rap game, I’m ready to blow.

(Bridge)
This rap game’s a battleground, I’m in it to win,
With every word I spit, watch my legacy begin.
I won’t back down, I’ll fight till the end,
Hip-hop’s in my blood, it’s my eternal friend.

(Chorus)
I’m on a mission, spittin’ with precision,
Rappin’ through the rhythm, creatin’ my vision.
From the beats to the flows, we rock the show,
In this rap game, I’m ready to blow.

(Outro)
So listen up, world, as I take the stage,
This rap’s my passion, my eternal flame.
I’ll keep hustlin’, grindin’ every day,
With every rhyme I drop, I’ll make my way.

Our Take

While AI’s rhymes all make sense and all contain vocabulary and phrases that are commonplace in hip-hop songs, it pretty much stops there. Lacking in personal anecdotes, playful allusions, or a strong hook, the lyrics really just amount to a bare minimum rap song.

By no means would this become a chart-topper in today’s rap landscape, particularly because this brand of non-expletive, unspecific lyricism is much more geared to earlier eras of hip-hop. But that’s just our opinion. What do you think of AI’s attempt at writing a rap hit?