In the world of hip-hop, artificial intelligence is increasingly playing a role in music creation, from generating voices and visuals to even constructing virtual artists. A survey conducted by Ipsos for Deezer in November 2025 found that nearly 97% of participants could not tell the difference between music created by AI and that made by humans. A separate study by SubmitHub showed that 40% of the titles released globally in July 2025 used AI in some form, with nearly 23.2% being entirely generated by artificial intelligence. AI is changing how artists create and present their identities. Raphaël Da Cruz, a journalist and music critic, finds the justifications for AI's use in music unconvincing, though he acknowledges it can have some attractions. Abou Debeing, known for his song C'est pas bon, sees AI as just another tool in the musician's arsenal, while rapper Kik describes it as a neutral tool whose impact depends on how it is used. Suno, a platform launched in late 2023, allows users to create complete songs from simple text descriptions, even without specialized musical knowledge. Jack Brody, a product director at Suno, emphasizes the importance of preserving artistic creativity alongside product innovation. The rise of AI has drawn comparisons to past technologies like sampling, autotune, and music production software. Raphaël Da Cruz argues that equating AI with autotune is misleading, as autotune is a tool that corrects vocal pitch and has been misused, while AI's role in music creation is fundamentally different. He believes that true art lies in how an artist transforms emotion through their chosen medium. AI also raises concerns about the unauthorized reproduction of an artist’s voice. Singer SZA criticized on Instagram those who support such practices, calling them "disgusting." Abou Debeing agrees, stressing that artists should own their vocal imprint. The music industry is responding to these changes. Deezer reported receiving nearly 75,000 AI-generated tracks daily, which makes up about 44% of all uploads. The platform has implemented strict policies and automated detection tools to identify AI-generated content. Spotify is set to introduce a "AI Persona" badge in September to differentiate human artists from virtual ones. In France, the SNEP (National Syndicate of Phonographic Edition) has excluded AI-generated tracks from official charts and certifications. The SACEM, the French copyright organization, sees AI as both a creative tool and a challenge for copyright protection. It advocates for recognizing human contributions, the right to refuse to use works for training AI models, and mechanisms to ensure that creators are compensated. During the Fête de la Musique, organizations like Adami, SCPP, SNEP, and SACEM urged the government to strengthen the protection of musical works from being used by AI systems. A bill proposed by Laure Darcos aimed to establish that AI providers must assume responsibility for using protected works. Though the Senate passed it unanimously, the bill was blocked in the National Assembly in June 2026. Nonetheless, the discussion about compensating creators affected by AI continues. A parliamentary report in July suggested a mandatory financial contribution for certain AI providers to support the creative sector. AI is no longer a taboo in French rap, with several artists openly admitting to using it for music production, writing, and visuals. This has sparked public debate. Amin, a 25-year-old critic, argues that when prominent figures in French rap promote AI proudly, it normalizes its use. On his latest album BĒYĀH, rapper Damso collaborates with AI on the track Magic, where AI handles a few choruses. Booba claims to have used AI extensively in his project Blanco Nemesis, while Gims created Rven, an AI-generated avatar. The track Seychelles, originally made by a fan using AI, was later reworked by Booba. These issues were once theoretical, but the emergence of Willylancien has brought them into the real world. In March, the anonymous artist released two tracks, frozen and bleu, sparking questions about their origins and whether AI was involved. Deezer noted AI's involvement in Willylancien's work. The internet reacted strongly, with some defending the artist and others criticizing the lack of transparency. Despite the debate, Willylancien has gained a large following, with over 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 20 million streams for magique on the Swedish platform. The artist reached a new milestone with a feature on Cogite alongside Soolking. As the industry navigates these changes, finding a balance between innovation and regulation will be crucial. The public will need to become more adept at identifying AI-assisted or generated works. Raphaël Da Cruz suggests that listeners should remain in control of their emotional responses to music and learn to distinguish the passion behind a project. As long as the technology is regulated, the choice of whether to use AI will ultimately rest with the public.