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On May 24, Sexyy Red and Drake teamed up on the track “U My Everything.” And in a surprise — Drake’s beef with Kendrick Lamar had seemingly ended — the track samples “BBL Drizzy” (originally created using AI by King Willonius , then remixed by Metro Boomin ) during the Toronto rapper’s verse. It’s another unexpected twist for what many are calling the first-ever AI-generated hit, “BBL Drizzy.

” Though Metro Boomin’s remix went viral, his version never appeared on streaming services. “U My Everything” does, making it the first time an AI-generated sample has appeared on an official release — and posing new legal questions in the process. Most importantly: Does an artist need to clear a song with an AI-generated sample? “This sample is very, very novel,” says Donald Woodard , a partner at the Atlanta-based music law firm Carter Woodard.



“There’s nothing like it.” Woodard became the legal representative for Willonius, the comedian and AI enthusiast who generated the original “BBL Drizzy,” after the track went viral and has been helping Willonius navigate the complicated, fast-moving business of viral music. Woodard says music publishers have already expressed interest in signing Willonius for his track, but so far, the comedian/creator is still only exploring the possibility.

Willonius told Billboard that it was “very important” to him to hire the right lawyer as his opportunities mounted. “I wanted a lawyer that understood the la.

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