While some models like GPT-4 and Gemini enable these models to generate images, LLMs mostly exist in the realm of text. It will be a while before we get to see a single model or interface that enables us to create text, images, video, and audio in one place. Luckily, we don’t have to wait. We can just use an LLM to create something for us and another AI to create something incredible. In this project, we will use the creativity of an LLM to write the lyrics to our new anthem.
But let’s spice this up… Why not make it a battle of the LLMs? You’ve seen Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, and many other LLMs in action, but which one is best for writing a banger tune with?
No one (just yet) knows which LLM is the best for writing music lyrics, so let’s put it to the test. First, let’s think through how we will do this. You might remember if we just ask it:
“Hey ChatGPT, write a rap song about Africa.”
We will get:
[Verse 1]
Yo, let’s take a trip, come with me, no drama,
To a place where the rhythm’s hot like Ghana,
From the savannas to the bustling streets,
Africa’s the motherland, where culture meets.
In the east, where the sun rise,
Mountains touch the sky, it’s no surprise,
Kenya’s got the lions roaring loud,
Serengeti’s where the wildebeests crowd.
Down south, where the vibe is cool,
The rhythm of life, like a river, it flows,
From the Cape to the shores of Mozambique,
The spirit of Ubuntu it’s what we seek.
[Chorus]
Africa, oh Africa, land of kings and queens,
From the Sahara to the Cape, in between,
Rich in history, culture, and soul,
Africa, oh Africa, let your story be told.
So it’s ok, right? It feels like a children’s rhyme: drama, Ghana, streets, meets. We also have quite a general song about Africa. Try this prompt in ChatGPT and see if you get the same thing.
But if we apply some prompting techniques, we could give the GPT a role, specify some formatting, and also tell it what not do.
You are an established African lyricist in hip-hop, renowned for your ability to weave deep cultural narratives into your music. Your task is to compose a rap track that exemplifies how artistic expression can intersect with technological themes.
This song should motivate thousands of young students to envision a future shaped by Africa’s youth leading the AI revolution without directly mentioning the technicalities of coding. The format of your work will include multiple verses, a chorus, and an optional bridge crafted to engage a live audience effectively.
The tone should be inspirational, energetic, and visionary, maintaining the authentic rhythm and depth typical of impactful hip-hop music. You will perform this track to a large audience of students with a keen interest in AI, emphasizing the song’s role in educating and inspiring the next generation about the potential contributions of Africa’s youth in this dynamic field.
This prompt uses the Perfect Prompt framework and hits these 6 prompting principles:
- Persona: You are an established African lyricist in hip-hop, renowned for your ability to weave deep cultural narratives into your music.
- Exemplar: Your song is meant to serve as a leading example of how artistic expression can intersect with technological themes to inspire a young and forward-thinking audience.
- Format: The output required is a rap track, which includes multiple verses, a chorus, and an optional bridge crafted to engage and resonate with a live audience.
- Task: Compose a song that motivates thousands of young students to envision a future shaped by Africa’s youth leading the AI revolution. The lyrics should inspire without directly mentioning the technicalities of coding, focusing instead on broader themes of innovation and visionary change.
- Tone: The tone should be inspirational, energetic, and visionary, maintaining the authentic rhythm and depth typical of impactful hip-hop music.
- Context: You will perform this track to a large audience of students who are interested in AI, emphasizing the song’s role in educating and inspiring the next generation about the potential contributions of Africa’s youth in this field.
Try it out and compare it to ours:
From the heart of the savannah to the peaks of Kilimanjaro,
Dreams brewing in the minds, where once were shadows.
Voices rise, from Cairo to Cape Town,
Spitting bars like data, wearing passion like a crown.
In the streets of Lagos, the hustle never sleeps,
In the veins of Kinshasa, the future leaps.
Harare’s echo, whispers of change,
Addis rhythms pulse, the beat rearranges.
[Chorus]
We the seeds of tomorrow, Africa’s new stride,
Leaders, dreamers, in tech we ride.
From every village, every city, our minds ignite,
Dreams in AI, under the African night.
[Verse 2]
Scroll through the tales of Timbuktu,
Ancestral wisdom, in the digital hue.
Nairobi’s tech hubs pulse with potential,
Youth coding dreams, growth exponential.
Accra’s youth, building bridges, no fear,
Senegal’s beats, innovation rings clear.
From the ground up, we rise, we soar,
A continent of genius, opening new doors.
[Bridge]
Oh, watch us rise, from the dust, a storm,
Africa’s children, in unity, we transform.
Breaking chains with brains, creating waves,
New world pioneers, the brave, the brave.
[Chorus]
We the seeds of tomorrow, Africa’s new stride,
Leaders, dreamers, in tech we ride.
From every village, every city, our minds ignite,
Dreams in AI, under the African night.
[Verse 3]
Johannesburg’s skyline, mirrors tech dreams,
Cape Verde’s islands, streaming future streams.
From Giza’s pyramids to the shores of the Atlantic,
Our narrative bold, never static, always frantic.
Mali’s melodies inspire lines of code,
Botswana’s diamonds forge the high road.
Together we link, from continent to cloud,
Singing loud, Africa’s young and proud.
[Chorus]
We the seeds of tomorrow, Africa’s new stride,
Leaders, dreamers, in tech we ride.
From every village, every city, our minds ignite,
Dreams in AI, under the African night.
[Outro]
So here’s to the future, let this song play,
As Africa leads, in its own bold way.
With every beat, with every line,
Feel the power of the continent, prime time.
Is this the best we can get? No! As you will see over and over, there are often many tools we can use. In some cases, those tools do a better job. Using the same prompt with Claude and Gemini, we got this:
[Verse 1]
Innovation rises from every culture’s cradle
Our ancestors’ dreams kept burning like a sacred candle
Now it’s our turn to shape the world, don’t stumble or scramble
Brilliant youth igniting change, this movement’s no ramble
Technology evolving faster than we can conceive
But we’ll harness it, master it, shift the paradigm, believe
No more will the narrative be one that makes us grieve
Our code will rewrite the vision, achieve what we conceive
[Chorus]
The future’s in our minds, can you feel that?
Birth of a revolution, time to seal that
Minds unchained, limits disdained
Lead the world in AI, that’s the aim
[Verse 2]
Our diversity empowers us to build something new
Ancient wisdom meets modern tools, we’re an unstoppable crew
Problems get solved when the youth break through
No glitch, no virus can stop this movement true
Computational wizards, that’s what we’re becoming
Predictive analytics, the new drums we’re drumming
Machine learning the language that we’re humming
While reality transcends, our thoughts be thrumming
[Bridge]
They used to shut down our voices
But now data speaks volumes, the people’s choices
From humble homes to global networks
Our brilliance radiates, delivering what works
[Chorus]
The future’s in our minds, can you feel that?
Birth of a revolution, time to seal that
Minds unchained, limits disdained
Lead the world in AI, that’s the aim
[Outro]
The stage is ours, the script we’re rewriting
The limits, we’re defying the norm, we’re resighting
A new era where genius has no bounds or lighting
The path for humanity’s progress and uniting
[Verse 1]
Listen up, young minds, gather ’round
I got a story to tell, a future to unbound
Africa’s the cradle of innovation, where the wild things grow
Our ancestors built pyramids, now we’re building the code to know
From Timbuktu to Soweto, we’ve been pushing the pace
Our rhythms and rhymes, a symphony of grace
We’ve got the talent, the drive, and the flair
To shape the future, with a spirit that’s rare
[Chorus]
Rise up, young Africa, it’s our time to shine
We’re the leaders of tomorrow, and the future is mine
We’ll harness the power, of technology and art
To build a brighter future, with a brand new start
[Verse 2]
We’re not just consumers, we’re creators too
Our voices matter, our stories need to break through
We’ll use our imagination, to craft a new design
Where AI and culture blend, like a sweet African vine
From Lagos to Nairobi, we’re making some noise
Our digital renaissance, is a joy to choose
We’re breaking the mold, with a new wave of thought
Our innovation, will be the spark that’s caught
[Chorus]
Rise up, young Africa, it’s our time to shine
We’re the leaders of tomorrow, and the future is mine
We’ll harness the power, of technology and art
To build a brighter future, with a brand new start
[Verse 3]
We’ll build intelligent systems, that learn from our ways
And use data to drive, a brighter future’s gaze
We’ll create virtual worlds, where our stories come alive
And use AI to amplify, the beauty and the strife
We’re not just dreamers, we’re doers too
We’ll turn our vision, into a reality anew
We’ll make a difference, with every single line
And our impact, will be felt, for a long, long time
[Chorus]
Rise up, young Africa, it’s our time to shine
We’re the leaders of tomorrow, and the future is mine
We’ll harness the power, of technology and art
To build a brighter future, with a brand new start
[Bridge]
We’ll collaborate, we’ll innovate, we’ll inspire
We’ll use our diversity, to set our spirits on fire
We’ll build a future, that’s inclusive and bright
Where every young African, can shine with all their might
[Chorus]
Rise up, young Africa, it’s our time to shine
We’re the leaders of tomorrow, and the future is mine
We’ll harness the power, of technology and art
To build a brighter future, with a brand new start
[Verse 1]
Yo, check it, from Timbuktu to Cairo, Jozi streets to Lagos flow
African minds ignite, watch the future scenes unfold
We ain’t just rhymes and rhythms, we codin’ algorithms
Building bots with beats, spitting knowledge like logarithms
They said AI was for the West, a Silicon Valley game
But we rewrite the narrative, ain’t nothin’ ever been the same
Young kings and queens risin’, minds sharper than a spear
Building empires of innovation, erasing every fear
[Chorus]
This ain’t just Afrobeat, it’s Afro-future, understand?
Africa’s the motherboard, coding change across the land
We the generation, the bridge between the old and new
With every line of code, we paint the world in vibrant hues
[Verse 2]
From the savannas to the cities, talent bursting at the seams
Young girls with robots, boys with AI-powered dreams
No more just consumers, we the creators, leading the way
Building apps to educate, innovate, elevate every day
We speak the language of machines, translate it for our land
Bridging the digital divide, opportunity at hand
We planting seeds of knowledge, watch ’em blossom and unfold
This ain’t just Afrobeats, it’s the future, bright and bold
[Chorus]
This ain’t just Afrobeat, it’s Afro-future, understand?
Africa’s the motherboard, coding change across the land
We the generation, the bridge between the old and new
With every line of code, we paint the world in vibrant hues
[Bridge]
They say the future’s written in the stars, but I disagree
It’s written in the code, crafted by you and me
So let your fingers fly across the keys, unleash your might
Africa’s the future, and the future’s looking bright
[Chorus]
This ain’t just Afrobeat, it’s Afro-future, understand?
Africa’s the motherboard, coding change across the land
We the generation, the bridge between the old and new
With every line of code, we paint the world in vibrant hues
[Outro]
So let the rhythm move you, let the knowledge be your guide
Young Africa’s rising, with AI by our side
We’ll build a world of wonder, where dreams take flight
This ain’t just the future, this is Africa’s time to shine bright!
You be the judge of which one is better, but damn, Gemini is fire!
Make sure to generate your own lyrics before we move on. Try to draw inspiration from your own life.
Next, we’ll use an incredible text-to-audio AI to create the song.
Step 1: Head to www.udio.com and click on “Sign in”.
Step 2: Create an account with your Google, Discord, or Twitter.
Step 3: Warm up by typing in any request for a song or press the dice icon in the search bar to create a random prompt for a song. Next, hit Create and wait for the magic to happen. (I got this as a random prompt: “a song about the challenge of learning a new language, hip hop”)
Step 4: Udio creates two song options for you. Wait for it to finish, double-click on the song, and listen to your new creation!
Insane, right?
The first time Udio creates a song, it creates about 30 secs of music. We can extend or remix these songs. We can change the lyrics by typing in the Lyrics tab,
This is where many songwriting AIs got stuck, but Udio figured out how to extend songs. Clicking on Extend, we can add an intro and outro, as well as a section before or after. We could even let it create an instrumental part or… OR… we can use our own lyrics!
Play around with these features and create some music from different genres and moods.
Step 5: Now for the magic. Click on the “Reset” icon and create a new song. This time, we’re going to add a prompt like we did last time, but this time, we’re going to customize it by adding lyrics.
Select “Custom” for the lyrics, and read the “Lyrics Tip” section. Udio creates 30 sec at a time, so we need to give it 30 seconds of lyrics to work with. If we paste the whole song, it will try to put all the lyrics into that 30-second clip. So paste in your first verse, or even start with the chorus.
Udio also suggests you use square brackets to specify a verse or chorus. I used this:
[Verse 1]
Yo, check it, from Timbuktu to Cairo, Jozi streets to Lagos flow
African minds ignite, watch the future scenes unfold
We ain’t just rhymes and rhythms, we codin’ algorithms
Building bots with beats, spitting knowledge like logarithms
They said AI was for the West, a Silicon Valley game
But we rewrite the narrative, ain’t nothin’ ever been the same
Young kings and queens risin’, minds sharper than a spear
Building empires of innovation, erasing every fear
And this is what I got:
Spend a couple of minutes thinking about these few things:
1. How much effort would this have been for an artist to create?
2. What does this mean for the music industry?
3. How would we change something in this song? If we wanted to change one word, how would we do that? (We don’t know either.)
Open your song on Udio and click on share. Copy the link that looks something like this: https://www.udio.com/songs/5eNLWW52Y51m9doPjRQ5oJ8. Submit the URL to your Udio song below.
Note: If you submit or re-submit your Milestone after the deadline, please make sure to click on “Ask for a new correction”, otherwise your Milestone will not count as submitted.
How this helps you #FindYourPlace: By showcasing your analytical skills and creativity, you enhance your professional brand as someone who understands AI technologies. This can attract attention from industry peers and potential employers interested in innovative thinking.
