THE APEX TIMES
SWAVAY says he used ChatGPT as a “career coach” while preparing for his next stretch of shows, in an interview with Billboard
The Atlanta rapper, promoting his latest project, discussed how he turned to the AI tool for planning, feedback, and reflection as he looked ahead to upcoming tour dates and major collaborators.
SWAVAY, an Atlanta-based recording artist, discussed in a new interview how he used ChatGPT in a practical, day-to-day way while preparing for the next phase of his career, describing the technology as an unexpected “career coach.” The comments come as he promotes his project The Prelude and prepares for an upcoming tour, with the artist portraying the tool as a way to organize choices and pressure-test plans rather than as a substitute for creative judgment. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
In the same conversation, SWAVAY addressed his work with James Blake, describing Blake’s role in the project and what he learned through the collaboration process. He framed the takeaway as both musical and logistical, emphasizing how guidance can arrive in different forms during studio work and how those lessons carry forward into live performance planning. The interview also situates the discussion within SWAVAY’s broader effort to refine the transition from releasing music to sustaining momentum on the road. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
SWAVAY also referenced Metro Boomin, focusing on what he said he would do differently if he had the chance again to work alongside the producer. Billboard reported that the artist’s reflections included strategic and process-oriented adjustments, with SWAVAY connecting the decisions he made during earlier collaboration cycles to the planning he is now applying to his touring timeline. The artist’s comments pointed to the operational side of success, including how artists manage expectations, feedback, and execution across different teams. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
The interview’s “ChatGPT” segment centered on how SWAVAY reportedly used prompts and structured questions to clarify next steps, review approaches, and consider options he otherwise might not have formally laid out. Billboard described the AI tool as something SWAVAY turned to when evaluating career moves, describing the interaction as surprisingly relevant to his day-to-day planning. In the framing of the interview, the tool functioned as an assistant for thinking, helping him articulate goals and surface blind spots before they became costly mistakes. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
As with many music-career planning discussions, the practical effect of SWAVAY’s comments is less about any single tool and more about how artists increasingly use technology to manage time, communication, and preparation. Billboard’s coverage placed SWAVAY’s remarks within the context of his current rollout, including the project’s reception and the attention that comes with a touring schedule. The interview did not present a formal endorsement of AI as a replacement for professional guidance, instead describing it as a supplemental planning mechanism. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
For audiences, the remarks also offer a behind-the-scenes look at how an Atlanta artist is shaping the presentation that comes with his upcoming shows. While Billboard did not provide a full itinerary in the interview package, it reported that the discussion was tied to SWAVAY’s next tour stretch and the lessons he says he is carrying from both studio work and collaborator feedback into how he prepares for live performance. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
Billboard’s report ends with SWAVAY positioning his recent experiences, including his collaboration work and his use of AI planning tools, as part of an ongoing process of refining how he builds and executes his career. The comments suggest an emphasis on operational clarity, with the artist telling Billboard that structured reflection is now part of his preparation routine for release and tour cycles. (Billboard, June 23, 2026)
Why It Matters
- The interview underscores how artists are incorporating AI tools into planning routines ahead of public-facing events like tours.
- SWAVAY’s discussion highlights process and execution as a major factor in translating studio work into live performance.
- Use of AI planning tools could influence how artists manage feedback loops and decision-making during release and tour cycles.
- The remarks may shape audience expectations for behind-the-scenes preparation as SWAVAY’s next stretch of shows approaches.
Key Facts
- SWAVAY discussed using ChatGPT as an unexpected “career coach” while preparing for an upcoming tour.
- The comments were published in an interview with Billboard on June 23, 2026.
- SWAVAY described lessons from his collaboration work connected to The Prelude and discussed James Blake’s role in the process.
- SWAVAY also reflected on what he said he would do differently regarding collaboration with Metro Boomin.
- Billboard framed the interview as part of SWAVAY’s current rollout and touring preparation.