Kanye West voice deepfake — Oct 2026

An anonymous producer has filed a lawsuit against Kanye West and Yeezy Record Label LLC, alleging that he is owed at least $220,000 for work involving AI-generated vocals. The producer, currently identified as John Doe, has requested to remain anonymous in court filings due to concerns regarding his and his family's physical and emotional safety.

What happened

The lawsuit, filed in August 2026, centers on production work performed for the albums Vultures 2 and BULLY. The producer claims that his contributions involved the use of AI technology. The legal proceedings have highlighted the producer's fear of retaliation, with his attorney, Mark Steven Avila, formally requesting that the court allow the case to proceed under a pseudonym. On October 26, 2026, Judge Kristin S. Escalante heard arguments regarding this request but postponed a final decision until November 18.

The allegations regarding AI usage in West's music remain complex due to conflicting public statements. In February 2025, West publicly admitted to using AI for the production of BULLY, comparing the technology to the use of Auto-Tune. However, in March 2026, West stated that the album would contain no AI. While the album was released on March 27, it has not been independently established whether the final version contains AI-generated vocals. The current lawsuit adds further uncertainty to the production history of these projects.