(Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images/Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
You might think youve heard it all in the music world but Xania Monet is shaking up the industry in a way fans never saw coming. Millions have streamed her chart-topping songs, yet some were shocked to learn the artist behind the hits isnt exactly human. Behind the soulful voice of Xania Monet is Telisha Nikki Jones, a 31-year-old Mississippi native whos blending raw emotion with cutting-edge AI.
Jones, who describes Xania as an extension of me, created the AI persona just four months ago while teaching herself artificial intelligence. She admits shes not a singer, but every lyric comes directly from her own lifepoems inspired by her experiences, family, and friends. In a heartfelt ‘CBS Mornings’ interview, she revealed that losing her father at just 8 years old inspired her breakout song, ‘How Was I Supposed to Know?’ Billboard reports Monet is now the first known AI artist to earn enough radio airplay to debut on a Billboard radio chart, appearing on at least five charts since her debut release.
Jones says the process is a mix of creativity and tech: she chooses a poem, feeds the lyrics into an AI music generator, and customizes prompts such as slow R&B tempo, soulful female vocals, light guitar, and heavy drums. While some fans question the idea of an AI artist, Jones insists its not a shortcutits a new way to bring deeply personal stories to life, proving you can be human, even through a digital voice.
I just feel like AI its the new era that were in, she shared. I look at it as a tool, as an instrument, and utilize it.
Fans flooded The Shade Room Instagram comments with hot takes on Xania Monet, sparking a mix of debate and admiration. Some argued people should support real artists instead of AI creations, while others marveled that if you told them this was possible a few years ago, they wouldnt have believed it. And, of course, a few reminded everyone to stop the hate, saying this is just where the music (and munyun) is heading.
One Instagram user @socialnatrosha said, “Sounds like genius move to me! ”
This Instagram user @slg882007 added, “Why not write for real artists?“
And, Instagram user @denzelcrispy joked, “‘BUT YOU CANT SING!’ Gaylechiiiilll TT!!”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @shawnnaworldwide commented, “In the 90s you couldnt have paid me to believe”
While Instagram user @sassysochic_ wrote, “I need a AI duplicate of myself that can go to work for me while I stay home“
Finally, Instagram user @nikkiallure shared, “Dont hate the player hate the Game“
The AI music debate is heating up, and this week, Baby Tate had a lot to say about virtual artist Xania Monet. A day after Monets creator was on ‘CBS Mornings,’ Baby Tate took to Instagram with a blunt reaction: Girl, what the f**k? At the very least, you couldnt have had someone make a beat? She added that Jones is not doing any work and cant even sing, calling it a slap in the face to every creative in the world that AI music can chart on Billboard.
Under Baby Tates post, Muni Long chimed in, pointing out that AI artists wouldnt get the same treatment in the pop or country genres, and she called out Monets Apple Music bio for listing herself alongside Keyshia Cole and K. Michelle, saying, And her bio says she used myself @keyshiacole and k. Michelle as a reference. Im not happy about it at all. Zero percent. The conversation happening around Monet shows that AI in R&B music isnt just a tech topicits sparking real emotions in the community.
