A$AP Rocky Accused Of Stealing Artist’s Video As AI Controversy Explodes

They are calling him “A$AP Copy” now. Not the innovative homie A$AP.

A$AP Rocky may have a bigger problem than angry fans generally complaining about artificial intelligence. An artist is now questioning whether Harlem’s own borrowed somebody else’s creativity without permission. This is a mess…on a Monday.

Rocky’s latest visual, “Shroom Clouds,” featuring reggie and Jeremih, arrived October 19 with the sort of psychedelic imagery we have come to expect from the Harlem fashion icon.  Check. No problem. However, the celebration took a detour into accusations of plagiarism. And this is serious.

Here is the video:

Social media users eventually began circulating comparisons between Rocky’s video and an older piece of visual art reportedly created in 2019 by artist Ari Fararooy. Ari is no chump…he’s a champ. The similarities are beyond startling. Was it reproduced or digitally manipulated? Or simply AI?

A creative director and visual effects artist known online as @cache_bunny (the person that was allegedly infringed on) shared comparisons that attracted considerable attention. The artist subsequently addressed the controversy.

“I’ve gotten over 600 messages about this so far. I don’t know what to do about it yet, but clearly this has struck a major chord with the creator community, which is nice to see. Stealing artists work is not ok, and that’s not the precedent we want to set. I can’t understand why they didn’t just reach out to license the clip, or make their own version inspired by it.

If anyone has advice on what to do please let me know” 

Others jumped on this as well:

WHEW. And then AI enters the chat.

The official production credits acknowledge people specifically identified as AI artists, including Spike and Red, along with Ces. Rocky directed the video alongside Aisulton Seitov and Pietro Biz Biasia. Yeah…this is getting uglier by the moment.

Rocky has acknowledged artists approach AI differently and does not discriminate. He apparently judges each individually. Things change with this.

Rocky has built an enviable reputation for imaginative music videos. Why would someone with so much money and so many creative resources risk that reputation over a visual sequence? It is not even that long.

Perhaps there is an explanation involving licensing, artistic collaboration or something else entirely? Maybe?

Rocky’s camp has not said anything, at the time of this writing.

And until somebody does, the questions will probably multiply faster than the mushrooms in this video.

AI, y’all.

Thoughts?