Instagram/@jadakiss
Whenever he goes against the established norms, a rap legend named Jadakiss who created the animated video ‘Critter Krueger vs Michael Myers,’ resulting in the Halloween-themed release that is the AI artistic application, has accumulated a lot of criticism around him. The project, which was to be a spooky surprise, was so large-scale that it involved the animators known as Critter and Sticks Grafix and was scheduled to be released on October 31, 2025. But the massive implementation of AI has made a big portion of the audience very displeased and even questioning the artistic value of the whole issue.
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The animated short is an associative retelling of themes from the horror-core genre. It is about a six-year-old very hairy monsterboy who possesses ‘the darkest eyes’ and is supported by lyrics that are extremely graphic and gory that literally show a murder spree. The rappers at their chillingly blunt best with verses like, ‘so I killed everybody, then I chopped them up,’ which couldn’t be more suitable for Halloween, and they have indeed built the right atmosphere for that day. Despite all the gore and horror encompassed in the song, soon after the discussion turned to the visuals. The very mention of the likes of Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Tech N9ne was somewhat eclipsed by the instantaneous and forceful reaction to the use of AI animation.
The feedback was immediate and largely negative. A prevailing opinion was that listeners felt cheated, and many among them remarked that a performer like Jadakiss should be the one to set the highest standard. One of the fans expressed his discontent saying, ‘I wish you didn’t use AI for this video and actually paid good money for a video that would have been better than this.’ This comment articulates the main source of discontent, which is the perception that AI is a shortcut and thus used to make the work of the humans animators and directors less valuable. A different user presented it in a more blunt way, saying, ‘great song but can’t support the ai there is a lot of great animators.’ This points to the growing polarization within art communities and that generative AI is seen as a hindrance rather than a tool for artists to use.
Some long-time fans were really offended by the criticism. One user wrote: ‘Your greatness and legacy can’t absorb a blow like this,’ indicating that the rapper’s reputation might be damaged because of the move. Another follower was even more daring, proclaiming, ‘Never had a wack verse… until just now… Kiss you are what Ai should be learning from.’ This one, in particular, is a really striking comment—the user puts Jadakiss in the position of providing the raw material for AI’s learning instead of being the one who depends on AI to produce his art. The user seems to consider that the human creativity of his is now being intermingled with technology.
Meanwhile, several comments pointed to the ethical side regarding the use of AI. One rather detailed post pleaded, ‘Please @jadakiss @bustarhymes look deeper into generative AI and see how soulless it is… Damn AI. Stand up for the artist.’ This user even gave a very poignant follow-up remark, which he didn’t hesitate to label a caution, ‘just think if somebody stole your voice and put out an album. Cause that’s where this is going.’ This evokes the very fear that many artists have about their styles and voices being imitated and utilized without permission, which is a real concern in an age that is rapidly turning more and more digital.
Among the loudest criticisms, there were a few who backed the project and tried to divert the attention to the positive aspects. One of them said, ‘Ya missing the point!! Just focus on the lyrics!! Shit fire tho,’ thereby admitting that the main product was still of great quality. Even more were wondering whether the post was real at all; with phrases like ‘This aint even u! maaan’ and ‘No laugh? Nah this def fake,’ the people were insinuating that the artist’s move was so unexpected that some thought his account had been hacked. An onlooker simply replied, ‘Ai got yall generation in a chokehold,’ highlighting the generational gap that is often present in such debates.
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The music video release of ‘Critter Krueger vs Michael Myers’ was clearly designed as an event for Halloween. However, by choosing AI animation, this decision has opened up a much wider conversation about the issues of authenticity, creativity, and the role of technology in hip-hop. The language is gritty and hardcore, as fans of the genre would expect, but the medium has become a major point of contention. The situation indicates that for a legendary artist, every creative choice is scrutinized, and the introduction of new technology is not always welcomed. The debates about the position of AI in music have just started, and this case, being so public, has certainly helped in drawing more attention to it. Joe and Jada have also been part of recent discussions in the hip-hop community. In other news, Fat Joe recently made headlines for his own collaborations. The rapper also took time for his brother, showing a more personal side. Finally, the dynamic between Joe and Jada continues to be a topic for their podcast listeners.
