Full Episode Transcript The TrevBeats Show — Episode 3: Wellness, AI & The New Music Business (with AI ≠ I AM . I AM SOURCE 7) TREV: Welcome back, welcome back to The TrevBeats Show — where we talk music, tech, culture, and the future they’re building with or without us. Today we have a great show. We’re talking wellness, we’re talking one of the great creatives of our time — AI does not equal I AM. I AM SOURCE 7. You may know him as Seven, who made so many hits with Ashanti, Ja Rule, J.Lo — all those Murder Inc. records. Today he’s got some bars for y’all about AI and wellness. And of course, it wouldn’t be The Trev Show if we didn’t dive into music and tech. So let’s get into it. [Theme Music Plays] Segment 1 — AI & The New Music Industry TREV: Okay. The game changed again. Warner Music just struck a deal with Suno, one of the biggest AI music generators in the world. Universal is also making AI moves of its own. And whether we like it or not, this is the new music industry. Let’s break it down. Here’s the headline: Warner Music Group partnered with Suno — the platform that can generate full songs: vocals, harmonies, instrumental styles, everything in seconds. This is not just some tech experiment. This is a major label saying, “We want in.” Meanwhile, Universal Music Group — one of the biggest, if not the biggest — who was initially the loudest about lawsuits and copyright, is now partnering with multiple AI companies on “approved,” licensed, “artist-friendly” versions of these tools. In other words, they’re not fighting AI anymore. They’re formalizing it — and they want to own all the lanes. Why are labels doing this? Three reasons: 1. Money. AI lets them scale creation: Background music Catalog expansion Alternate language versions …faster than any human team ever could. One of the biggest costs in making an album is still studio time. 2. Control. If fans are making AI songs using artist voices anyway, labels want the ability to: Approve it License it Monetize it Same as any other use of the catalog. And they want to keep the ownership. 3. Relevance. If the next generation of artists grows up with AI as a natural part of their workflow, labels have to be the ones offering these tools — or they get left behind. This isn’t about replacing artists. This is about controlling the future pipeline. What does that mean for artists? Here’s the part musicians need to pay attention to: When labels partner with AI platforms, they’re creating new standards for deliverables: AI-assisted stems “AI-ready” vocal models Alternate genre versions Language conversions Remix-friendly arrangements Context-specific versions for TikTok, Reels, trailers, ads… All of this is coming. It means artists are no longer just making songs — we’re making data. Let me repeat that: Artists are no longer just making songs. We are making data. Your sound, your voice, your style — these are now assets labels want to plug into their AI ecosystem. That also means: New contract language New royalty structures New ownership disputes New litigation A whole new category of rights Musicians can either sit this out or adapt early. What should you be doing right now? To all my musicians, producers, creators — here’s the move: Learn AI workflows. Not to “sell out” — to understand the landscape so you don’t get pushed out of it. Protect your voice and likeness legally. Be very careful what rights you grant in a contract. Don’t casually give away your voice model or likeness. Use AI to enhance your personal brand. EPKs Social content Visuals, copy, automation Use it to amplify your identity, not erase it. Develop a signature sonic identity. Make music so distinct that no model can really replace your fingerprint. Originality is never going out of style. Stay educated. The artists who combine creativity + technology will be the ones labels want to partner with, not replace. The Warner–Suno and Universal AI moves aren’t “the future” — they’re right now. We talked about this a couple weeks ago on the show. Even in just those weeks, things have moved fast, and these deals are becoming reality in real time. We’re going to keep tracking it here on The Trev Show and breaking it down so you can stay ahead and not get left behind. Please make sure you like, comment, subscribe, and tap in every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Pacific. [Music Sting] Segment 2 — Announcements: Book, Lingo Pack & Splice / Ableton TREV: Today is a huge day for the TrevBeats family. First of all — it is here. We are here. The Trev Show is here. It’s official. My brand new book is out: The Musician’s Pocket Guide to Endorsements, Volume 3 — officially out now. You can find it at trevorj.com. This is the most updated version of the book. It’s about: AI branding Content And everything you need to level up your relationships in the music world. And when I say “endorsements,” to me that’s just another word for relationships. Check the book out, sit with the concepts, and pull out what you need — it’s going to speak to you one way or another. Second, our new sound pack is out — it’s called Lingo. And it’s not what you think. This is not a drum pack. Lingo is geared toward: MDs Musical directors Anyone building live shows, in any genre — pop, R&B, gospel, jazz, classical, whatever. It’s all about musical language — phrases and textures. We went and recorded the useful show calls and musical terms you need for: Backing tracks Slate tracks Transitions Things like: “Bridge” “In 2, 3, 4” “Out” Music terms like “Allegro,” “Forte,” etc. We recorded them, tempo-tagged them, and formatted them so you can drop them into your DAW and time-stretch them to any session tempo. So when you need that clean voice saying “Chorus,” “Vamp,” “Band out,” or classical terms for your show, Lingo has it. That’s also available at trevorj.com. And speaking of DAWs — this is huge: Ableton just announced direct Splice integration. Direct. Splice. Integration. For all my producers out there, you know we’re in a drag-and-drop era when it comes to production. So Splice being built right into Ableton is a game-changer. You can drag and drop straight into your session. Obviously, I’ve got packs on Splice: Boom Bap Drums Vintage Hip Hop Drums Now, you can pull those up instantly inside Ableton. So: The book The Splice packs The new Lingo pack All available at trevorj.com. [Music: “Like, Comment, Subscribe” Hook] Like, comment, subscribe, comment, subscribe… Let’s talk about music… Segment 3 — Interview with AI ≠ I AM . I AM SOURCE 7 TREV: All right, ladies and gentlemen. Today’s interview is going to be something you’ve never experienced before. The person I’m interviewing today and I go back decades. No matter how long it’s been since we spoke, every time we connect we end up in deep, positive, enlightening conversation. I want to introduce everyone to my dear friend: AI does not equal I AM. I AM SOURCE 7. Please put your hands together for this brother. [Applause & Theme Music] SEVEN: Yeah man. How you doing, man? TREV: Man, great, bro. Good. Glad to have you here. This topic is very important. Wellness right now — especially with how the world is going — is critical. Before we get into that, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about your incredible contribution to this industry since I’ve known you. For those who don’t know: in the early 2000s, a lot of us remember that long, hit-filled run from a company called Murder Inc. And behind that sound was my dear friend Seven — back then Seven Aurelius, now AI does not equal I AM. I AM SOURCE 7. This brother is responsible for so many hit records and had a distinct sound — you saw him in the videos, on the charts — and now we’ve got him here today. But we’re not just talking about discographies and plaques. This brother’s always been on another plane — emotionally, spiritually — beyond just music. So we’re going to talk about wellness, inner balance, karma, and more — especially as it relates to music. And of course we’re going to touch on one of my favorite topics to connect with music: AI. First off again — welcome to the show. SEVEN: Thank you, brother. Congrats on the show, by the way. TREV: Thank you very much, man. SEVEN: You’ve always been a forward-thinking brother. I remember down in Miami, Casa de Aurelius — bro, you’d come down with Lionel Richie, Lenny Kravitz pulling up, Chef Ivan in the kitchen… And every trip you came with something new. A portable studio, new tech — always trying something. You’ve always been forward-thinking, man. So whatever you do — Godspeed, God bless you and the family — I support everything you rock with. This is awesome, man. TREV: That was a great period, man. Honestly, that was an amazing period in music and in the industry. Miami was on fire. We’d ship out road cases full of drums, we had a whole vibe going, we made a ton of records. All right, so here’s where I want to start: Your music has always had this strong connection to wellness and inner balance. I knew you off-camera, and you always had that side — the candles, the energy, the way you kept the room. How do you maintain that alignment while moving through an industry that can be… let’s be real… grimy, political, and full of folks with questionable motives? On Wellness, Alignment & God SEVEN: I think that’s a great question. The “secret” is this, Trev: Everything and everybody is God. God performing in different versions, experiencing Self through His own creation. Those of us who connect with Source have a little bit of a head start on those who still think it’s just about them. Or people who think God is something separate from them. So when you’re tapped into Source, and you know everything you’re dealing with is a piece of that same Creator, it changes how you move. TREV: That spirituality definitely came out — not just in the music, but in how you set the environment and how you showed up. We’ve had some pretty magical sessions together. A lot of folks didn’t get to see that — they just saw the videos, the charts, the articles. Do you think artists need a stronger understanding of their own karma, energy, and intention? SEVEN: I think everyone’s here to experience whatever movie they want. For me, I need everything God-tier. I want everything the way God wants me to have it — the best of the best: The finest experience in the studio if I’m recording The finest experience in dining if I’m eating The deepest peace if I’m home Whatever it is, that’s the movie I want to experience. And anyone with speaking parts in my movie — if they use those speaking parts in ways that don’t align with the new timeline I’m on? I have to yell “Cut.” But you won’t hear me say “cut.” You just won’t have access to the timeline anymore. TREV: The silent cut. SEVEN: Exactly. Silent cut. Moving Into Wellness TREV: You’re constantly evolving. Now you’ve stepped deeper into the wellness space. Talk a little about how you’re using your experiences from music and life to fuel this new lane. SEVEN: We’re blessed, Trev, because we’ve had the divine experience of touching the zeitgeist — making records that touch the masses. Once you’ve done that in an industry this difficult, you can apply that skillset to anything. That’s why I tip my hat to Ye. I did “Violent Crimes” — that record is at 1.6 billion streams now, and it’s on Kai Cenat’s Fortnite island. Shout out to Ye and Kai. When you’ve touched culture like that, you understand how to frame things for the masses. So wellness is a natural progression. For the last 15 years, I’ve been on preventative health. Our industry forces us into: Long nights Crazy schedules Repetitive listening High stress I can’t smoke, can’t drink, can’t do drugs, because I’ve got a real schedule. And honestly, I never wanted to anyway. I met a doctor in Malibu — he owned a wellness clinic. We both got hit hard by the wildfires. My house burned down, studio gone. His business was impacted too. He came to me like: “You’re a genius at what you do. I need help re-branding.” So he hired my agency. We re-branded the whole thing with I AM SOURCE powering the visuals and messaging. We’ve got: Malibu Newport Beach Brentwood West Hollywood Marina del Rey Five locations now. And alongside that, I’ve got a gummy line coming in January. I’m asking: How can I create more things that make people feel better? Music was one gift under the tree. God is like, “Bro, there are other gifts. Open those too.” So now I’m doing: Wellness Products Branding Still music And even writing — I’ve written three books. One is a prestige sci-fi thriller called Let Us Stay, with a TV adaptation in the works. I’m asking myself daily: What else do I love? What else can I become? If I am Source, if God is in me and I’m a divine spark, that means I already have everything. So the question becomes: What do I want to experience on this timeline? Tools, AI & Evolution TREV: Let’s pivot into AI a bit. As someone known for blending sonic innovation with emotional depth, where do you draw the line between AI being a helpful tool and AI becoming a distraction from the real work great music requires? SEVEN: We all saw what happened with Auto-Tune. When it first came out, people were like: “Thank Jesus, I don’t have to sing or write anymore.” No, no, no. It’s a tool, bro. Relax. You still have to write something. You still have to have a vocal performance. When people treat a tool like autopilot, that’s when it crashes the art. Same with AI. AI is just a tool that handles heavy lifting around: Process Iteration Scale The barrier between having an idea and scaling that idea has basically collapsed. Now is the time to get on your I AM Source energy. Before, you needed a budget for a crew, agency, staff. Now: Idea is king. Whoever has the idea is king. From a tools perspective, it’s no different than Pro Tools, Ableton, FL. It’s just that now the tools extend beyond music — which is why music is about to go to another level. Instead of judging it, understand: If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less. TREV: That’s a bar. And that lines up with history — every time technology evolved, there was pushback. Tape machines, multi-track, digital… people always said “it’s over.” The music kept evolving. Energy, Prayer & Reinvention TREV: I’ve noticed a new energy from you lately. Some of that is clearly tied to everything you’ve gone through this year, losing your home, your business partner, all of that. How much of this new energy is from discovering these wellness tools and new creative lanes? SEVEN: A lot of it. I’m just grateful I’m still here, Trev. Losing my home, my studio, my partner — it was a divine pivot. I had to ask, “What’s next?” And the answer was: Wellness Writing Creating in new formats Deep prayer I pray all day. In the car, at home, walking — I don’t stop talking to the Father. I live alone right now. Beautiful home, but just me. That solitude is where a lot of ideas come. Tesla said it: if you want big ideas, you need quiet. I’m living like: The universe is extremely friendly to my plans. Anything I want to do, it’s ready to help me make it real. Divine inspiration seeks out the useful vessel. The more you learn, the more useful you become in this new age. Advice for Young Producers & Artists TREV: A lot of young producers watch this show. What practices — mental, spiritual, or musical — do you recommend for staying grounded? SEVEN: It’s hard to tell anyone else exactly how to find God or Source. But here’s what I know: They say: God is closer than your breath. That means God is consciousness itself. If you’re awake, that’s God. Once you understand there is no separation between you and that phenomenon, you want to protect the signal. Like when you’re in the car and your favorite song is on, and you hit a patch where the station goes static. All you want is to get back to where the signal is clear. For me, that means: Prayer Water meditations every morning Specific daily affirmations and spiritual practice Protecting who has access to me and my energy And I’d say this to young creatives: Sometimes you have to leave home. Sometimes you can’t get “a new you” in the same environment that trained the old you. Sometimes you have to leave the people who’ve known you your whole life so you can become something new without being tethered to someone else’s expectations. There’s a scripture — Mark 6:3 — that says the only place Jesus couldn’t do miracles was in his hometown of Nazareth, because no one believed him. They only saw him as: “Isn’t this the carpenter? Mary’s son?” If Jesus had a hard time in his hometown, what does that tell you? Sometimes you gotta move. Sometimes you’ve got to jump out the nest. And don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. Put some slashes behind your name. You might start as: Musician Producer Then grow into: Author Wellness founder Film/TV creator Whatever God gives you breath to do. You won’t lose what you know by adding more. You’re just expanding the movie. Segment 4 — Wrap-Up & Immigration News TREV: Well, ladies and gentlemen, there you have it — my interview with the man, the legend: AI ≠ I AM . I AM SOURCE 7. Before we go, I want to touch on one more topic from the news. The White House has issued a sweeping immigration pause: No new visas No asylum approvals Even previously approved asylum, refugee, and green card cases are reportedly being re-reviewed The administration triggered this after a violent incident involving an Afghan national. What does that mean in real life? Families hoping to reunite may be stuck Students, workers, refugees are on hold People already living in the U.S. legally could face new uncertainty Supporters call it a security move. Critics say it’s overly broad and punishes innocent people. This shift could impact millions. And sadly, a lot of the countries on that list are on the African continent — which produces some of the most educated immigrants in America. Just something to sit with. Final Show Close TREV: Great show today. Big thanks again to my guest AI ≠ I AM . I AM SOURCE 7. Quick reminders: The Musician’s Pocket Guide to Endorsements, Vol. 3 — out now Lingo sound pack — out now Boom Bap Drums & Vintage Hip Hop Splice packs — live, with Ableton + Splice direct integration Merch — hoodies, tees, coffee mugs, water bottles, hats — all at trevorj.com And remember what Seven said: If you don’t like AI, you’re going to like irrelevance even less. Until next week — I’m Trevor Lawrence Jr. This is The Trev Show. We out. [Theme Music: “It’s the Trev Show and we out…”]