November 11th, 2023 was a day Frank Nitty will never forget.
It was the day he played rapper Bad Azz’s AI-cloned voice for his family and friends, five years after the rapper’s death.
It was also when Vocal Roots AI made its first major breakthrough. Two big moments, one unforgettable day. Today, Frank is the founder of Vocal Roots AI, a company bringing hip-hop legends back to life through AI voice cloning technology.
Frank grew up bouncing between foster homes and experiencing homelessness with his mother.
“I used to be homeless with my mom. I used to sleep in cars and sleep in bathrooms, and I’ve been through that. My mom breaking in cars because it’s winter time and she can’t keep me warm,” he shared in a recent interview with me.
This tough start made him determined to help others and kept him focused on finding ways to unite people through music and technology.
By 2018, Frank was deeply connected in the hip-hop world, having worked alongside Snoop Dogg’s protege Bad Azz for many years.
He was passionate about music production and artist development, but couldn’t have predicted how one dream would change everything.
The Dream That Started It All
After rapper Bad Azz passed away in November 2019, Frank had an unusual experience that set him on a new path.
“Bad Azz, which is Snoop’s protege, he died five years ago and he came to me in a dream,” Frank explained. “He was like, ‘Nitty, I live in the metaverse.’ And five years ago, I didn’t know what the metaverse was. I was like, what the fuck? The metaverse? And he was like, ‘Nitty, if anybody could do it, it’s you.’“
This mysterious message pushed Frank to learn about new technology. “I had to educate myself, man. I had to educate myself and go to school, take classes to be able to come into this world and know what I’m talking about.“
Hip-Hop Meets AI Voice Cloning
Frank wanted to honor his friend’s legacy in a meaningful way while exploring this new technology frontier. The challenge: How to bring Bad Azz back respectfully without exploiting his memory.
“I checked all the different platforms on the market. I felt like Respeecher was a great fit because you know, they want to end me with their voice cloning. You know, Respeecher did Elvis Presley, they did big things,” he explained.
Respeecher has also brought Young Luke Skywalker to Life in The Mandalorian:
Young Luke Skywalker in the Mandalorian (Screenshot from Respeecher’s website)
Frank spent months collecting recordings and working with the voice cloning experts.
This approach to preserving artists’ voices is gaining traction across hip-hop, similar to how Eazy-E’s son explored using AI to complete his father’s unreleased tracks
The Emotional First Listen of Bad Azz’s AI voice clone:
With Bad Azz’s mother, close friends, and fellow artists gathered around, Frank played the AI-cloned voice for the first time. It was a moment of overwhelming emotion, especially meaningful because he chose November 11th — Veterans Day, the anniversary of Bad Azz’s death.
“I made sure I got all the homies, which I have footage. I’m going to leak it real soon. I made sure I brought all the homies, close homies, everybody in the studio together. And I played it for the first time,” Frank shared. Bad Azz’s mother was particularly moved: “She cried when she heard it. She cried. And that’s like, to me, that’s like beautiful.“
What’s up next for Vocal Roots AI?
Today, Vocal Roots AI helps preserve the legacies of hip-hop artists and gives fans new ways to connect with legends who have passed.
Frank is working with more estates, including some connected to Snoop Dogg’s circle.
“We got some big things planned. It’s going to blow people’s minds,” Frank stated enthusiastically. He’s particularly focused on ethics: “I want to do it the right way with the right permission, you know what I’m saying? Not even just people that’s passed away, but people that’s living.“
Vocal Roots AI has a new initiative where you can vote for which hip hop artist’s voice you want to hear again including Coolio, Nipsey Hussle, DMX, and Juice WRLD. After people vote, they’ll use AI to create new content with the chosen artist’s voice, but only if they get permission from the artist’s family and estate. If you miss hearing these rappers, you can go to their site and pick your favorite.
Vocal Roots AI
As the AI music landscape evolves, Frank is mindful of staying compliant with emerging AI laws like the ELVIS act that protect artists. His approach aligns with the growing movement toward ethical AI music tools that ensure artists are compensated for their work and creative contributions.
From childhood hardship to music industry success and building Vocal Roots AI, Frank’s story shows how personal connection can drive technological innovation.
“I owe it to him,” Frank says of Bad Azz, demonstrating that sometimes the journey from dream to reality is just the beginning of something much bigger.
