Hitmaka Speaks Out Against Capitol Records For Their Initial Backing of Controversial A.I. Rapper FN Meka: It’s Some Of The Most Disrespectful Stuff I’ve Seen In A Long Time
Hitmaka Speaks Out Against Capitol Records For Their Initial Backing of Controversial A.I. Rapper FN Meka: It’s Some Of The Most Disrespectful Stuff I’ve Seen In A Long Time
Producer Hitmaka got things off his chest following Capitol Records signing (then dropping) A.I. rapper FN Meka.
Famed producer Hitmaka recently voiced his opinion in an interview regarding Capitol Records’ decision to sign (then let go) robot rapper FN Meka. While speaking on the questionable situation Hitmaka, previously known as Yung Berg, shared:
“I think it’s a disservice to the culture, it’s so many different talented people in this world to where that somebody can come up with a character of what they assume Black people or this culture is provided by, or what the guidelines is and go out and make a parody of literally Black people.”
Hitmaka, born Christian J. Ward, continued:
“It’s some of the most disrespectful stuff I’ve seen in a long time and to know that nobody from the culture was involved with the creation of this just shows how much [of a] capitalist mindstate [Capitol Records was] in. How much like the times are changing like, man, like this is ridiculous for our creators. I’m definitely taken back by it for real.”
He added:
“When you go, and you go steal a culture and appropriate it and it doesn’t affect the culture. Now if the A.I was like ‘okay. We’re gonna have new song writers, new producers work with this A.I rapper, that are in the culture, that is based from a Black stand point’ and then they was able to give back to the culture. That A.I doesn’t give back to the culture, given to someone that owns Capitol records that probably not even in states. He’s probably overseas somewhere and doesn’t even like rap music at all.”
The 36-year-old exclaimed:
“You know how this stuff go. Everybody’s worried about job security. With me being the vice president over at Empire, I’m also a – I’ve sold a hundred million records, 10 billion streams, so I’ll go in a meeting and say my real true opinion. It’s hard for someone to tell they true opinion about how they feel if they know they family is gonna be affected if you go and shake the room, or move the room in the wrong direction. So a lot of people probably had these thoughts and ideas but who wants to lose they job behind something that job security with their families based on them attacking the culture. We need more people that are fearless inside these buildings, such as myself that’s gonna allow them to say ‘yo, this is not right. I don’t care if you fire me. I don’t care what goes on from this, if you judge me for it but I’m not standing for this.’ I encourage more producers, more people that are actually creative to be in these jobs, in these seats, in these offices, because people don’t care. We already here.”
As previously reported, rapper Kyle The Hooligan took to Instagram after FN Meka creators, Anthony Martini and Brandon Le, reportedly ghosted him after he provided his voice as the sound for the project.
Kyle The Hooligan alleged they persuaded him with the idea of equity and percentages but he eventually never heard from him. The rapper admitted to waiting for FN Meka to be successful before he could recoup damages. However, on Tuesday (Aug. 23.), after news broke that FN Meka was dropped from his record deal due to backlash, Kyle came forward to reveal that he was never paid for his sound. He explained:
“Basically it was like, they came to be with this A.I. sh*t and was like, would I want to be the voice of it? And I thought it was go be like some collaboration. They promised me equity into the company, percentages, all this stuff. So I’m thinking, okay – this about to be like some collab, something different for me so I can do my music and be on some A.I. stuff with this FN Meka character.”
He continued:
“Next thing I know, n*ggas just ghosted me. Like, used my voice, used my sound, used the culture, and literally just left me high and dry. I ain’t get a dime off of nothing.”
He added:
“They got record deals [and] all this stuff. I wasn’t involved in no meetings or none of that, which is f*cked up. So honestly, I’m glad they a** got canceled. That’s karma for they a**.”
In a released statement a Capitol Music Group spokesperson announced:
“CMG has severed ties with the FN Meka project, effective immediately. We offer our deepest apologies to the Black community for our insensitivity in signing this project without asking enough questions about equity and the creative process behind it. We thank those who have reached out to us with constructive feedback in the past couple of days — your input was invaluable as we came to the decision to end our association with the project.”
What are your thoughts on Hitmaka speaking out against Capitol Records? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.
[VIA]