AI artist Xania Monet fires back at detractors with new diss track

AI artist Xania Monet has responded to criticism from R&B singer Kehlani, music executive Jermaine Dupri and all the artists who have not supported her work by releasing a diss-style record titled “Say My Name With Respect”. 

Monet did not let bygones be bygones after Kehlani and Dupri made comments on her music. The AI singer answered using what sparked the debate in the first place, and that’s the music.

The song dropped on Friday, December 19, and directly addresses the growing backlash around AI artists, particularly questions about authenticity, effort and whether a non-human act deserves space in an industry built on lived experience.

While Monet doesn't name names, the references are just hard to miss. The song’s lyrics hint at public comments made by Kehlani and others about AI artists securing multimillion-dollar record deals, as well as wider industry resistance to the idea of an artificial 

At one point, Monet sings about being told she is “not real” and accused of not creating anything of value, pushing back with the argument that impact matters more than process. 

In the song, Monet is basically asking if listeners are connecting to the music; does the method used to create it automatically disqualify it?

Kehlani has been one of the most vocal opponents of AI artists in R&B. Earlier this year, she openly rejected the idea of respecting AI acts, saying the work behind them does not compare to the work real artists put into their craft. 

Those comments gained even more attention after reports surfaced that Xania Monet had signed a multimillion-dollar deal, reigniting fears that technology could sideline human talent.

Dupri also weighed in, questioning how the industry can condemn past acts like Milli Vanilli for not being the true voices behind their music, yet embrace AI performers who do not physically sing at all.

His comments added fuel to an already heated conversation about credibility, fairness and where the line is drawn.

Behind the AI singer is writer Telisha “Nikki” Jones, who has never shied away from the criticism. In an interview with American journalist Gayle King, Jones repeatedly stressed that while the vocals are AI-generated, the lyrics come from real experiences. 

Jones has described Monet as an extension of herself, insisting that the emotion, storytelling, as well as the intention are human, even if the delivery is not.