Cassper Nyovest raises alarm over AI-generated music

Some social media users have expressed mixed reactions to multi-award-winning rapper, Cassper Nyovest, after he admitted to unknowingly sharing an artificial intelligence (AI)–generated song.

Nyovest, whose real name is Refiloe Phoolo, said he shared the track titled SUKA by an artist named Rea Gopane, believing it to be the work of  an emerging vocalist.

The hip-hop star says the incident highlighted just how advanced AI-generated music has become.

 “I really see it becoming a problem for up-and-coming artists trying to break into the market,” Cassper said.

Cassper Nyovest talks about the dangers and effects of artificial intelligence in music. pic.twitter.com/tanu89rezZ

— Musa Khawula (@Musa_Khawula) February 1, 2026

His admission has sparked renewed debate about the growing use of AI in South Africa’s music industry and the potential threat it poses to emerging artists.

1/2. AI doesn’t hinder breakout artists, it can mirror legacy songwriting camps & ghost production models. Emerging talent can partner with AI prompt engineers for rapid pre-production demos, select tracks that resonate, then topline, record the master, and perform authentically.

— Brian (@BrianSabwe) February 1, 2026

AI music is trash bro

— Christian Denoyagel (@denoyagel1) February 1, 2026

This is not the first time AI in the arts has come under scrutiny. The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) has previously raised concerns about the expanding use of AI in film and television, warning that the technology is already displacing performers in an industry with limited regulatory safeguards.

These concerns echo similar warnings in the United States, where actors have long cautioned that AI could replace human roles or replicate performers’ likenesses without proper consent or compensation.

According to SAGA, AI is already widely used in South Africa for commercials, dubbing, and voice work, with a growing number of cases involving actors’ likenesses being copied without authorisation.