Did an AI Music App Just Reveal This Summer’s Hit Song?

There isn’t a universal “song of the summer” anymore, but if rap is your jam, Fenix Flexin’s “Rubberz” is definitely in the running.

Released in June, the track is currently ranked No. 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and boasts a music video that has garnered 7 million views. Lyrically, it’s packed with everything you’d expect: boasts about wealth and bling, along with lines that cleverly play on themes of bragging and underlying sadness.

However, there are two intriguing aspects to “Rubberz.” Firstly, it’s not a rap track; it’s a synth-pop song that fits seamlessly into a moody ’80s playlist. Secondly, since its release, it has faced allegations of being completely or partially generated by AI.

This debate peaked over the weekend when an independent music producer claimed he unraveled not only how Fenix created “Rubberz” but also suggested that Tyga, a labelmate of Fenix, appeared to utilize a lesser-known generative AI music app for his own ’80s-inspired tracks.

Adding fuel to the fire, the developers of that same AI music app have revealed that their service’s new built-in detector is now marking songs by both Fenix and Tyga as likely AI-generated.

This revelation may finally bring closure to the ongoing debate among fans this summer, although it’s likely to spark a new conversation.

Tune Up

Skepticism surrounded Fenix from the outset; “Rubberz” not only represents an unusual genre shift for the artist, but it also features a vocal performance that doesn’t sound like his usual style.

Growing up in East Hollywood, Fenix has a distinctive voice, and when he entered the scene with Shoreline Mafia in the late 2010s, his somewhat nasally tone was easily identifiable. However, the voice on “Rubberz,” released on June 5, is strikingly different—brighter and sharper, almost resembling a cheery Morrissey.

Both he and the credited producer, Purps on the Beat, have consistently denied any use of AI. Fenix told Channel 5 that he “freestyled” the lyrics, and in an On the Radar performance, he responded to accusations of AI involvement, saying, “No sirrrrrrr, recorded same as all music I do! Only difference is auto-tune reverb and me using my fake uk accent lol.”

While not everyone accepted his explanation, there was no definitive evidence to the contrary. As summer rolled on, music critics pondered the possibility of “Rubberz” being AI-generated. Yet, no prominent AI music detectors raised flags, Fenix denied the allegations, and the song’s streams kept climbing. Fans had to accept that the question remained unsettled.

Then, the narrative took a sudden twist. On Thursday, a music producer named Medasin shared a video claiming he had figured out how Fenix incorporated AI into the track.

Instead of the major generative AI tools like Suno or Udio, Medasin asserts that Fenix used a lesser-known app called Treblo. He meticulously outlines his claim: he points out that the app was previously named Sonauto until just two days before the release of “Rubberz.” He even shows a screenshot from Fenix’s old Instagram Stories that hinted at the new ’80s sound, revealing a filename that includes the suffix “Sonauto.mp3.”

The most striking allegation arises when Medasin demonstrates how he utilized Treblo to create a track that sounds very similar. By using tags like “80s synthwave” and prompting the app to craft lyrics about a “rapper lifestyle,” he managed to produce a song that closely resembles “Rubberz.”