The Guy Behind the Viral A.I. Drake Song

Summary

The video delves into the mysterious case of 'Ghostwriter,' the anonymous figure who sparked a viral sensation with an AI-generated song featuring Drake and The Weeknd. Despite the song's rapid success and widespread controversy, the identity of Ghostwriter remained elusive. Through an extensive investigation, the creator uncovers various clues pointing to an individual named Jake Lawson, a successful songwriter who may have orchestrated the stunt to challenge the music industry. The video explores the secrecy, motives, and possible legal consequences behind this groundbreaking AI music event, leaving viewers intrigued by the truth behind the story.

Takeaways

• 😀 AI-generated music exploded in popularity after a viral TikTok featuring a song by AI Drake and The Weeknd.
• 😀 The AI song amassed 15 million views on TikTok and 600,000 streams on Spotify, sparking widespread discussion about AI in music.
• 😀 Universal Music removed the AI song from various platforms, causing significant media coverage, including on BBC.
• 😀 The creator of the viral TikTok, known as Ghostwriter, remains anonymous despite significant public interest.
• 😀 Through internet detective work, the narrator discovers that Ghostwriter is likely based in the eastern United States and has experience in music production.
• 😀 There were speculations that a tech startup, Laylo, was involved in promoting the song, but the theory was debunked after further investigation.
• 😀 The narrator investigates the social media accounts of Ghostwriter, uncovering a possible link to rapper Young Boba, though this connection remains unclear.
• 😀 The discovery of an odd comment from Ghostwriter on a random product page hints at possible involvement with scammers, but this is another dead end.
• 😀 The narrator uncovers that Ghostwriter emailed Young Boba under the alias 'Boy Amore', leading to further clues about Ghostwriter's identity.
• 😀 The search leads to Jake Lawson, who fits the profile of Ghostwriter—American, from the eastern US, with music experience and ties to AI-generated music.
• 😀 The reason behind Ghostwriter’s anonymity and the use of AI music remains unclear, though it may involve a desire to test the impact of AI-generated vocals in the industry.

Q & A

What triggered the sudden rise in AI-generated music discussions?

The sudden rise in discussions around AI-generated music was triggered by a video posted by an anonymous individual sitting in a chair, listening to an AI-generated song featuring Drake and The Weeknd. This video went viral, amassing over 15 million views on TikTok and 600,000 streams on Spotify within days.

What was the response of the major record labels to the AI-generated song?

Major record labels, particularly Universal, reacted strongly by removing the AI-generated song from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify. This action led to widespread media coverage, making the incident a key point in the conversation about AI's role in music.

Why was the removal of the AI song from platforms considered significant?

The removal was significant because it wasn't just a typical copyright takedown; it sparked a global debate about the legality and ethics of AI-generated music. It caught the attention of mainstream media outlets, including the BBC, marking a critical moment in the development of AI in music.

What clues did the detective find about the person behind the 'Ghostwriter' account?

Through investigative work, it was determined that the person behind the 'Ghostwriter' account was likely from the Eastern United States, had experience releasing music, and may have staged their videos. They also claimed to have been a ghostwriter, which added a layer of intrigue.

What is a 'ghostwriter' in the music industry?

A ghostwriter in the music industry is someone who writes songs for other artists without receiving public credit. The person behind 'Ghostwriter' claimed to have such experience, suggesting they were familiar with songwriting techniques.

What role did the tech startup Laylo play in the investigation?

A theory emerged that the tech startup Laylo might be connected to the 'Ghostwriter' account. The 'Ghostwriter' account linked to Laylo, and Laylo's CEO showed interest in AI-generated music. However, this theory was debunked after further investigation, as Laylo's CEO denied involvement, and the link to 'Ghostwriter' was inconclusive.

Why was the 'Laylo' theory dismissed?

The Laylo theory was dismissed because the startup was based in LA, not the Eastern United States, and the evidence linking Laylo to 'Ghostwriter' was circumstantial. Additionally, Laylo's CEO confirmed that they had no involvement with 'Ghostwriter,' and the 'Ghostwriter' account didn't consistently use Laylo's links across platforms.

How did the detective narrow down potential suspects?

The detective narrowed down potential suspects by examining the social media profiles of accounts followed by 'Ghostwriter,' leading to a rapper named Young Boba. However, after further investigation, it was revealed that Young Boba was not the true 'Ghostwriter,' but was somehow connected to the case.

What was the significance of the comment made by 'Ghostwriter' on Young Boba's post?

The comment made by 'Ghostwriter' on Young Boba's post, asking about a business inquiry, hinted at a potential collaboration or involvement between the two. This led the detective to further investigate, though it remained unclear whether Young Boba had any direct role in the AI-generated song.

What discovery was made about 'Ghostwriter's' email alias?

It was discovered that 'Ghostwriter' had used the alias 'Boy Amore' when emailing Young Boba, which provided a crucial lead. Further investigation revealed that 'Boy Amore' was linked to a TikTok account, which led the detective to suspect a person named Jake Lawson might be the true identity of 'Ghostwriter.'

How did the detective identify Jake Lawson as a possible suspect?

The detective identified Jake Lawson as a possible suspect by noting the similarities between his social media accounts and the 'Ghostwriter' profile. Both accounts used similar phrases, captions, and stylistic elements in their videos. Additionally, Jake Lawson fit the profile of someone from the Eastern United States with experience in music and a history of ghostwriting.

Why would Jake Lawson potentially want to remain anonymous during the AI music stunt?

Jake Lawson might have wanted to remain anonymous to avoid the legal consequences of releasing AI-generated music using other artists' voices. Additionally, he may have been concerned about how his audience would react, as AI music is a controversial topic. It’s also possible he wanted to test how the music industry would respond to such a novel release.

What role did social media play in uncovering the identity of 'Ghostwriter'?

Social media played a key role in uncovering 'Ghostwriter's' identity by providing clues through the accounts they followed and interactions with others. The detective used platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to track down leads, ultimately linking 'Ghostwriter' to Jake Lawson.