The release of Cardi B’s long-awaited sophomore album Am I The Drama? has already sparked waves of conversation, but one track in particular is fueling a heated debate about artificial intelligence in music. The controversy centers on “Dead,” Cardi’s collaboration with Summer Walker, where fans believe the outro features an AI-generated voice imitating SZA.
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Listeners quickly noticed that the outro vocals on “Dead” carry a tone uncannily similar to SZA’s signature delivery but with a slightly robotic, “glitchy” texture—raising suspicions of AI manipulation. The supposed SZA-sounding section only appears briefly at the end of the song, but it was enough to ignite widespread speculation. Adding fuel to the fire, SZA herself recently criticized the use of AI-generated art and music, posting a strongly worded message to Instagram:
“Hey I hate Ai. If you fuck w me PLEASE don’t make any Ai images of me or songs. Ppl and children are dying from the harm n pollution Ai energy centers are creating. A stupid photo is not worth polluting and harming under served communities. Thank you. Ps. PLEASE KNOW EVERY TIME U USE OR PROMPT AI SOMEONE IN a forgotten community IS SUFFERING Y eventually the effects will reach everyone. By then it’ll be too late. Bless.”
The timing of her statement, combined with the mysterious outro on Cardi’s track, pushed rumors into overdrive. Fans began questioning whether Cardi had quietly used AI to simulate SZA’s voice without crediting her.
However, sources close to Cardi have moved swiftly to shut down the speculation. According to Ken Barbie, a social media influencer and close friend of the rapper, the vocals in question are not SZA—or an AI copy of her—but Summer Walker’s own voice, pitched up in post-production. Cardi B’s team also denied any AI involvement, clarifying that the outro was simply a stylistic choice and not intended to deceive listeners.
Beyond the controversies, Am I The Drama? had an immediate impact. Featuring collaborations with the likes of Selena Gomez, Megan Thee Stallion, Kehlani, and Tyla, the LP quickly climbed to No. 1 on both US iTunes and US Apple Music. In addition, several tracks charted on iTunes. Fans’ attention was also directed toward the lyrics, as Cardi took shots at fellow rappers Nicki Minaj, JT, and BIA in several lines.
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