If there is a song that has captured the strange uncertainty of 2026, it might be Fenix Flexin’s “Rubberz.”
The track became a surprise hit, climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and attracting millions of views online. Sonically, it is unlike anything expected from the former Shoreline Mafia member: a melancholic synth-pop track built around an ’80s-inspired sound, complete with a dramatic vocal style that sounds closer to British new wave than West Coast rap.
The unusual transformation immediately raised questions. Was this a bold artistic reinvention, or was artificial intelligence involved?
Fenix Flexin has repeatedly denied using AI to create the song, saying that the difference comes from vocal effects and his intentionally exaggerated accent. For weeks, there was no definitive answer.
That changed when producer Medasin published an investigation arguing that “Rubberz” was created, at least partially, with Treblo, an AI music platform. According to WIRED, Medasin pointed to similarities between the song and tracks generated through the platform, including comparable production choices and lyrical patterns. When WIRED reporter Dexter Thomas used Treblo to try and recreate the Fenix Flexin hit using prompts, he got eerily close.
The controversy intensified when Treblo introduced an AI detection tool that identified “Rubberz” as “very likely” created with its technology. The company’s findings have not been independently verified, and Fenix Flexin and his team have not confirmed AI involvement. But the debate has already moved beyond one song. The bigger question is what happens when audiences can no longer assume that the music they love was created entirely by humans.
That conversation was already happening before “Rubberz.” At Osheaga this weekend, Empire of the Sun singer Luke Steele defended the use of AI in music, describing it as “just another tool” and comparing it to a sophisticated instrument that can expand what artists are capable of creating. He argued that musicians who learn how to use AI could gain a creative advantage, while those who reject it risk falling behind.
The opposing argument is not necessarily that AI should have no place in music. Many artists have embraced technology throughout history, from synthesizers and drum machines to sampling and digital production. The concern is transparency.
“Rubberz” may eventually be remembered as a fascinating experiment, a controversy, or a turning point. But regardless of the final outcome, the song has exposed a reality with which the music industry has to contend: AI is likely already on the charts.
