FN MEKA. FN MEKA. FN MEKA.
Yes. He/It/They is not human but its creators wanted the thing to be the future of music artistry, at least rap music artistry.
I am glad it failed. Capital Records rescinded its deal with the "performer" when the "authentic" representation of a modern rapper was found to be a little too "authentic." It pissed off real, struggling performers who wondered what was Capitol's agenda, and members of its potential audience.
The digital dilettante wasn't even a full line into its initial song before it let fly the n-word. Atlanta rapper Kyle The Hooligan, who voiced "FN." wasted no time in getting to that word. I swear it was like the 4th word in the first line of its ouevre. (The dude, more or less, said he got stiffed for his part - https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/rapper-who-is-allegedly-voice-of-fn-meka-speaks-n-ggas-just-ghosted-me-news.156865.html For such a lauded, supposedly monumental step in music, the creation was as insipid as any other popular rap act out now. "FN" wasn't bringing anything new to the game. It was same-o, same-o; it was just in another garish package. A package that got returned to sender after some folks realized it was insulting, stereotypical and far from innovative. "FN" was yesterday's faux-pas before it could even leave the gate.
Why?
'Cuz people who examined "FN" saw that it was, is, offensive. The thing's creators didn't even try to hide their inherent bias in when constructing the thing.
Oh, and see its creators below. No surprise there. Another level in monetizing Blackness without acknowledging the real deal, or respecting it.
Antthony Martini and Brandon Le
These "innovators" obviously had a list of what constitutes a rapper. And they ticked off every item on their list.
The items: 1) the "performer" appears racially ambiguous. The day's hot selling point. Be a little brown, but not too brown as to be BLACK. But sound black and give off a "Black aesthetic." Appeal to everyone aurually AND visually.
2) a grill, tats, piercings, painted fingernails, colored hair (like Daniel Hernandez had before going to court) colored contacts, tons of gold jewelry - all "markers" of a rap "star"
3) it drops the n-word like nobody's business.
Did I miss anything?
I suppose I can't blame the thing's makers as most rappers look like that now but it does show that there is a biased blueprint in a lot of people's minds as to what a rapper must look like.
Which brings me to the backlash the creature received. A plethora of musicians who are FLESH AND BLOOD rappers cried "foul" at the signing of "FN" to Capitol. Why? Because it isn't like there is a deficit of real, live rap potential to choose from. I mean, hell, Capitol, there a lot of REAL, young, hungry folks at there waiting to be snapped up. There's no need for digital artists. Or is there?
Possibly labels were searching for a way to acquire "talent" without liability. Look at the number of rappers who are in trouble with the law - Gunna, Young Thug, Mystikal, ASAP Rocky, etc. It costs labels time and money when a performer is out of work due to alleged criminal activity. It's hard to tour from a prison cell.
Plus, a label could work this new type of "performer" day or night; weeks-long or months-long. Years-long even without needing to pay it, feed it or its entourage, or house it. There would be no need for venues as one would be able to "attend" a concert online. It would be a cash cow that would not need a barn.
So no matter how offensive, tone deaf and short-sighted, creations like "FN MEKA" are coming. He is not the only one. One thing for certain, two things for sure, he was just a test balloon. Its balloon might have been popped but others will fly. Check out Little Miquela, another digital "singer" who is popular with real people. Hell, reference the holograms of Whitney and Tupac. dead folks still working from the grave. Creepy.
"FN's" stereotypical depiction of a rap "star" aside, "FN" didn't sit right with me (as in why does a frame in its video have it being beaten by a cop? Why?), but then, again I am not its audience. The "creators" did follow the present protocol when baking their cake. So it should have been foolproof. Or so they thought.
Believe me. After these "creators" or others find a way not to not commit the same faux pas, they will be back. It ain't over.
P. S. Lil, ole dense me just realized "FN" stands for the informal English "f##kin'." My bad.
