Fenix Flexin shifts narrative on 'Rubberz' AI use after months of denials

Fenix Flexin reverses course on AI-assisted ‘Rubberz’

According to The Verge, LA rapper Fenix Flexin is now reframing his position on artificial intelligence use in his 80s synth-pop track “Rubberz,” claiming via Instagram that he “never said I didn’t use AI.” This statement directly contradicts his public denial made just weeks earlier on Hot 97’s Mornings With Mero, when interviewer Kazeem Famuyide asked directly about AI involvement and Fenix Flexin responded that there was “no AI on it.”

The reversal follows mounting evidence of AI tool involvement in the track. According to The Verge, producer Medasin released videos documenting the use of Treblo (formerly called Sonauto), an AI music generation application. The software’s developers subsequently published an AI detector confirming Treblo’s participation in creating “Rubberz.”

Fenix Flexin’s shifting explanations

In his Instagram comment, Fenix Flexin clarified that while he used AI technology, he maintained it “had nun to do w recording process.” He claimed ignorance of the tool’s identity until mixing began, when audience commentary alerted him to speculation. He positioned AI adoption as inevitable industry evolution, arguing that “ain’t nothing wrong w using new technology as a tool keep up w the times or get left behind.”

However, this narrative conflicts with months of active denial. According to The Verge, Fenix Flexin’s team posted what they claimed were recording session files, commented on social media asserting the song was produced by two humans in his living room using “pro tools auto tune and some reverb,” and disputed claims that he was lip-syncing in certain clips.

The contradiction is particularly striking given parallel developments in hip-hop. According to The Verge, rapper Tyga has openly acknowledged relying on AI for his 80s-influenced album “$tarface”—a transparency that now contrasts sharply with Fenix Flexin’s month-long pattern of denial followed by his current reframing.

Why This Matters

The shift from explicit denial to semantic reframing—claiming he “never said he didn’t” rather than admitting prior false statements—has implications for artist credibility and consumer trust in AI-assisted music. For listeners and industry observers, the question is no longer whether AI was used (now established), but whether artists will be transparent about it from release. Fenix Flexin’s approach of initial denial followed by reinterpretation suggests that without clear industry norms or disclosure requirements, artists may face less reputational cost by shifting the narrative than by initial honesty. This pattern could shape how future AI-assisted releases are marketed and how audiences evaluate artist authenticity claims.