Xania Monet Replies to Kehlani on New Song ‘Say My Name With Respect’

AI artist Xania Monet returned Friday (Dec. 19) with her prickly “Say My Name With Respect” single, which claps back at critics like Kehlani, who previously slammed AI artists.

Monet, who is operated by writer Telisha “Nikki” Jones, is looking for the industry to put some respect on her name and not undermine the powerful art that’s being released into the world, regardless of its approach.

“Funny how you went to the media first/ Talking about my pen like you know my work/ You don’t know the nights I cried to write/ Or how many songs healed somebody’s life/ You say I ain’t real/ You say I don’t create/ But your voice shake a little every time you create because deep down you know I’m destined to shine,” Monet sings.

Monet doesn’t list Kehlani by name, but appears to be taking aim at the “Folded” singer, as well as others who have condemned AI artists.

She continues: “You keep saying I’m not a real artist, right/ But somehow my songs still change somebody’s night/ People say my lyrics saved them, that’s real art.”

It will be interesting to see if and how Kehlani goes about responding to an AI artist. Could there be a back-and-forth with an AI artist that will bring R&B into uncharted waters?

Billboard has reached out to Kehlani’s reps for comment.

Back in September, Kehlani slammed AI and artists like Monet courting a reported $3 million record label deal.

“There is an AI R&B artist who just signed a multimillion-dollar deal… and the person is doing none of the work. This is so beyond out of our control,” Kehlani told followers on social media. “Nothing and no one on Earth will ever be able to justify AI to me. I don’t respect it.”

Monet made history when she became the first AI artist to debut on a Billboard radio chart, as “How Was I Supposed to Know?” entered at No. 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay in November.

Listen to “Say My Name With Respect” below.