King Von, the late Chicago rapper, has been brought back to life in a surprising music video by Chinese artist FOUR4444, provoking discussion on social media forums concerning AI, the drill movement, and the boundaries of art.
On Nov. 4, FOUR4444, an up-and-coming rapper from Chengdu, China, dropped the music video for her song “童趣猫耳手表,” which translates to “Fun Cat Ear Watch” in English. FOUR4444 may look like a reserved young rapper, but she raps fiercely in her deep voice.
“Rocking a playful cat ear watch / My flows ’bout to merk you / Talkin’ sht behind my back / Lil dumb ases better not let me catch you,” she raps in the song, seamlessly fusing her cute looks with the fierce power of drill rap.
The most surprising part comes when the AI-rendered King Von appears in the clip. The digital representation of the late O-Block rapper is pictured with his arm around FOUR4444, pointing a gun at the camera, a move that has caused controversy over the digital representation of deceased artists using AI technology.
FOUR4444 has a video showcasing the AI “King Von” available below.
