M.anifest Criticises AI-Generated Songwriting, Says Human Creativity Must Remain at the Heart of Music
Award-winning Ghanaian rapper M.anifest has poured concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) to compose complete songs, arguing that musicians who rely entirely on AI-generated lyrics should reconsider their approach.
Speaking in a recent interview, the rapper said AI is useful in music production but should not replace the human creativity that gives songs meaning and emotional depth.
“I think if you’re using prompts to write songs, you should be ashamed of yourself,” M.anifest said, while explaining that his criticism was directed at artists who depend entirely on AI to produce music.
The musician clarified that he is not opposed to artificial intelligence itself. Instead, he believes AI should serve as a creative tool rather than a replacement for songwriters and performers.
According to M.anifest, technology can help musicians with production elements such as instrumentation, sound design or arranging compositions. However, he argued that songwriting should remain a distinctly human process driven by personal experiences, imagination and emotion.
The rapper also revealed that he has already encountered musicians in Ghana who use AI prompts to generate complete songs. He questioned whether music produced without meaningful human input could truly be regarded as authentic artistic expression.
As AI becomes more common across the global music industry, M.anifest believes streaming platforms should improve transparency. He suggested that songs created primarily through artificial intelligence should be clearly labelled so listeners understand how they were produced.
He also proposed giving users the option to filter AI-generated music from playlists and streaming recommendations if they prefer listening to works created by human artists.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used across the music industry to assist with songwriting, production, mastering and voice synthesis. While many artists view the technology as a valuable creative aid, others have raised concerns about copyright, originality, artistic ownership and the future of human creativity.
M.anifest’s comments add to the broader international conversation about how AI should be used in music, highlighting the balance many artists believe should exist between technological innovation and authentic artistic expression.
