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Tyga's AI album draws 0.0 Pitchfork rating, sector questions
Tyga's use of AI on '$tarface' drew a rare 0.0 Pitchfork rating and backlash from Doja Cat, highlighting the divide in the music industry over AI tools.
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Tyga admitted in an August interview with Vibe that he used AI music software to produce parts of his ninth studio album “$tarface.” The 80s-inspired project, released last month, drew an immediate backlash. Pitchfork rated the album 0.0 out of 10, its lowest score since the late 2000s, partly because of the AI usage. Doja Cat, who appears on two tracks, called Tyga “a penis for making an AI album” during a livestream last week. Social media reaction was similarly harsh.
The episode highlights a growing fault line in the music industry. Some artists see AI as a production tool that speeds up work and cuts costs. Others worry it will displace human labor, cheapen the creative process, and let companies use their work without paying. Those tensions fueled the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes, which each lasted more than 100 days and shut down much of Hollywood.
Tyga told Vibe he used AI to add 1980s-style synth sounds but handled the vocals and lyrics himself. “I know people are going to be mad about me saying this, but it's where technology is going,” he said. “It's no different than when Auto-Tune came out.”