In hip-hop, there seems to always be a group of some sort that the artist came up with. For example, The Wu-Tang Clan, a group of 9 but would eventually become 10 friends would go on to become arguably the greatest rap group of all time.
It is now 2016 and we are still seeing hip hop groups today. A few of the most notable would be Top Dawg Entertainment who is led by Kendrick Lamar and Pro Era who is led by Joey Bada$$.
Throughout this article, I will be comparing these two crews as they are two of the best, if not the two best crews in hip hop.
Let's start off with comparing fan bases. It would seem that TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) would have the larger fan base because more of the artists in the crew are better known than most of the artists in Pro Era. TDE consists of Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Isaiah Rashad, Lance Skiiiwalker, and SZA. Pro Era has more members than TDE but the only really well-known artists are Joey Bada$$, Capital STEEZ, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, CJ Fly, and Dirty Sanchez. TDE has the bigger fan base because they have more artists that are fairly popular across the world while Pro Era only has one maybe two artists that could compete as far as popularity.
Next up is talent. Pro Era being from New York has a very hip-hop influenced lifestyle. These kids pretty much wake up rapping and cyphering or battling. TDE is from California and they are more known for creating great bodies of work, not just spitting bars whenever they need to. It depends on how you look at it. As far as rapping, Pro Era has more talent bar for bar, but when it comes to creating great projects, TDE has them by a landslide. Kendrick alone could beat the entire Pro Era roster with his two classic albums, "good kid, m.A.A.d city," and "To Pimp a Butterfly."
The thing about these two crews is that they truly are special. TDE has a roster that will be talked about for so many years to come because of the amount of talent they have. They are one of the only labels in the game right now that everyone who enjoys hip hop will hear about their new project that is dropping. Pro Era is special because they came onto the scene trying to restore the old boom bap New York sound that everyone loved 20-30 years ago. This is what really got the world turning heads because they were all so young and already so talented that the world knew they would be special. Capital STEEZ was responsible for creating Pro Era and was looked at to be one of the best rappers of this generation but he took his own life in 2012. This incident caused more publicity for the group and now they carry on his legacy through their music. Another reason they are so special.
When it comes to who is better, it is only right that TDE holds the title. Their past work outweighs their opponents and the fan base they have developed proves they are a force in this game.
It is great to see young groups still popping up throughout hip hop and it seems like it will not be stopping anytime soon.
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The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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