stayc main image

Writer's Block is Real, Even for J.Cole: Here are 8 Tips to Overcome

January 19, 2023

Rapper J. Cole has recently announced that he had been struggling with writer's block, but found a way to break free from it by using a type beat from Youtube music producer BVTMAN's YouTube...

Read more
stayc main image

Hania Rani: A Virtuoso in the World of Classical and Electronic Music

January 19, 2023

Hania Rani is a Polish pianist and composer whose music has been described as "hauntingly beautiful" and "evocative." She is known for her unique blend of classical and electronic music, which she...

Read more
stayc main image

Ryan Tedder’s Studio Review: Writing Three Songs From Scratch

January 16, 2023

Ryan Tedder is a highly accomplished and sought-after music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work with a wide range of artists including: Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and OneRepublic...

Read more
stayc main image

Quentin Miller only got paid $30,000 for writing 6 Drake songs.

January 6, 2022

Drake's ghostwriter controversy has been a topic of conversation since the rapper's feud with Meek Mill in 2015. Quentin Miller, a lesser-known rapper from Atlanta, was named as the ghostwriter....

Read more
stayc main image

Timbaland’s Beatmaking Masterclass Review: A Class on Feeling the Flow

December 28, 2022

Many artists are using their personal brand and influence to educate artists, from beginners to fellow professionals. Timbaland has partnered with Masterclass to teach musicians how to make unique...

Read more
stayc main image

Rina Sawyama -- The Voice of a Genre-Spanning Pop Star

December 7, 2022

Rina Sawayama has burst into the consciousness of queer music listeners in recent years. My first time listening to her work was Cherry, a track that is bubbly ...

Read more
stayc main image

YouTube Announces New “Creator Music” Platform

October 4, 2022

In the wake of Tiktok’s rapid expansion and growing dominance in the short-form video market, YouTube has felt the pressure to adapt to keep up with the shifting demands of its audience...

Read more
stayc main image

Deep Dive: How Conan Gray Writes His Songs

October 5, 2022

Conan Gray is an American YouTuber turned singer-songwriter, most well-known for his songs about heartbreak and unrequited love. Throughout his career, Conan has written songs like “Crush Culture”...

Read more
stayc main image

Phoebe Bridgers: A Deep Dive into Songwriting

October 17, 2022

Phoebe Bridgers is an American songwriter, singer, and producer who has, in recent years, gained mainstream recognition with the release of her sophomore album “Punisher” in 2020...

Read more
stayc main image

How Steve Lacy Makes the Most with Less

October 18, 2022

Steve Lacy is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and living proof that you don’t need the most advanced or high-tech studio equipment to create music that listeners will love...

Read more
stayc main image

Has the Pandemic Changed the World of Live Music?

August 31, 2022

For the last two years, there has been something missing in the lives of music lovers around the world—live music. The advent of a global pandemic meant the absence of concerts, festivals........

Read more
stayc main image

Like the Early Days of Hip-Hop: The Future of Blockchain in the Music Industry

August 19, 2022

One of the biggest questions many spaces face today is how blockchain technology may overhaul industry norms, and the music industry is no exception. In particular...

Read more

SZA Calls Out AI and Environmental Racism: "Tech Can’t Ignore Pollution in Our Communities"

stayc main image

In a recent interview, singer-songwriter SZA reportedly linked the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) to broader systemic issues like environmental racism, urging tech companies to address the disproportionate pollution burden on marginalized communities.

She Slams AI’s Environmental Racism: "Black and Brown Cities Are Paying the Price"

SZA isn’t buying into the AI hype—and she’s calling out its devastating environmental cost. In a fiery series of Instagram posts this week, the Grammy-winning singer condemned artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s Grok for exacerbating pollution in marginalized communities, declaring: “The only AI I’m using is Actual Imagination.”

AI Is Killing Black and Brown Cities

On Tuesday (July 15), SZA called attention to the hidden toll of AI infrastructure, particularly in Memphis, where Musk’s x AI recently opened a data center. “Please google how much energy and pollution it takes to run AI,” she urged followers, reposting a comment highlighting how tech corporations exploit low-income areas for cheap resources while leaving residents to suffer the consequences.

Memphis activists have long warned about the center’s excessive water usage and pollution risks. “They treat southwest Memphis as just a corporate watering hole,” KeShaun Pearson of Memphis Community Against Pollution told TIME in 2023. SZA echoed their concerns, labeling the practice “environmental racism”—the systemic siting of polluting industries in communities of color.

“A Price for Convenience”

SZA didn’t mince words about AI’s human cost: “AI doesn’t give a fuck if you live or die,” she wrote. “There is a price for convenience, and Black and Brown [people] will pay the brunt of it every time.” She criticized the public’s dependence on AI, warning, “We won’t get it til it’s too late.”

Her posts resonated with fans, sparking discussions about tech accountability. When resharing her message on Instagram Stories, SZA added: “I really meant this and I’m deeply concerned .. pls care.”

Why It Matters

SZA’s outcry reflects a growing movement to expose AI’s environmental injustice. From energy-guzzling data centers to mineral mining for tech hardware, the industry’s footprint disproportionately harms vulnerable populations—a reality the singer insists shouldn’t be ignored. As she signed off: “Love y’all regardless.”

SZA Calls Out AI and Environmental Racism: "Tech Can’t Ignore Pollution in Our Communities"sza-calls-out-ai-and-environmental-racism-tech-cant-ignore-pollution-in-our-communitiesEbrunida KaradagJul 19, 2025In a recent interview, singer-songwriter SZA reportedly linked the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) to broader systemic issues like environmental racism, urging tech companies to address the...