The song: basic facts
Title: 58th Floor
Artists: Anderson .Paak (vocals, composition) and Cordae (vocals, composition)
Producer: J. Cole
Album: Heavy Is The Crown
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap
Duration: 2:55 (original recorded version)
Label: APESHIT + EMPIRE / Hi Level + Mass Appeal
Samples: "Warning" by The Notorious B.I.G. (production credit)
Anderson .Paak and Cordae
Anderson .Paak is a singer, rapper, and drummer known for 2016's Malibu and 2018's Oxnard. He is equally comfortable on drums, keys, and vocals—his recordings usually feature him playing multiple instruments.
Cordae is a rapper and producer from North Carolina. He and Anderson .Paak previously collaborated on "RNP," a track from Cordae's 2019 album The Lost Boy.
The 58th Floor collaboration on Heavy Is The Crown reunites them after seven years. The album explores introspection and friendship, with 58th Floor as the opening statement of that theme.
J. Cole and production
J. Cole, founder of Dreamville Records and one of hip-hop's most prolific producers, produced 58th Floor. His production style on this track combines vintage soul samples, clean boom-bap drums, and a laid-back bounce—signature J. Cole sonic DNA.
The production uses chopped soul guitar riffs and atmospheric vocal fragments layered over a foundation sampled from The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Warning." This production approach aligns with both artists' preference for sample-driven hip-hop with clear, legible bars.
The COLORS performance
On October 30, 2026, Anderson .Paak and Cordae performed 58th Floor on A COLORS SHOW, the YouTube performance series known for one-take studio recordings and iconic visual setups.
Performance setup:
- One teal seamless background
- One hanging vintage microphone in the center
- Two artists, one mic
- Four camera angles, cut on the beat
- 54 seconds total
Performance structure:
- Verse 1 (0:00–0:26): Anderson .Paak raps the opening bars while Cordae stands and nods beside him
- Hook (0:26–0:35): Both sing the hook together
- Verse 2 (0:35–0:54): Cordae raps his verse while Anderson .Paak grins and reacts
The performance was released on COLORS' official YouTube channel (@colorsxstudios) on October 30 and accumulated over 650,000 views in three days.
Audio timing: where the trend starts
The AI video trend does not use the full 54-second COLORS performance. It uses a shorter window: 0:26 to 0:54 — the 28 seconds from the hook through Cordae's verse.
Why this section? This is where the back-and-forth energy peaks. Anderson .Paak's opening verse is meditative; the hook-to-verse transition is where the duet dynamic launches. The trend shortened it further to 12 seconds for TikTok and Reels, isolating the most energetic exchange.
Original audio rights and licensing
The original COLORS performance audio is copyright protected:
- © 2026 APESHIT + EMPIRE / Hi Level + Mass Appeal
- Writers: Brandon Paak Anderson (Anderson .Paak), Cordae Amari Brooks (Cordae), Jermaine Cole (J. Cole)
- Producer: J. Cole
You cannot legally use the original audio from the COLORS performance in your own videos without a license or clearance from the copyright holders. Using the original audio on TikTok, Reels, or Shorts will result in copyright claims, blocked audio, or deleted videos.
What the AI 58th Floor version uses
The 58th Floor AI video generator on this site does not use the original audio in any generated output.
If you choose AI-generated bars: The model writes original lyrics to an original beat composed in the style of 58th Floor. The beat, melody, and lyrics are all generated and contain no sample of the original recording. No copyright clearance is needed. No original artist's voice appears in the file.
If you choose custom audio: You can upload any audio you own the rights to (2 to 15 seconds, MP3 or WAV). You are responsible for ensuring you have the right to use it. Uploading the original COLORS performance audio as custom audio would violate copyright.
Copyright and posting: The clips you generate are for personal, social media, and non-commercial use. Using a generated video to promote a product, sell a service, or claim commercial rights requires a separate commercial license. Check the pricing page for commercial licensing options.
Why the AI version cannot use the original
Licensing the original COLORS audio for every user to generate a video would require:
- Blanket licensing fees from APESHIT + EMPIRE / Hi Level / Mass Appeal (not available at consumer scale)
- Clearing rights with all three writers (Anderson .Paak, Cordae, J. Cole)
- Securing permission from YouTube and the COLORS platform
- Payment from every user who generates a video
This is economically unfeasible at the scale of 1000+ daily users. Generated bars in the original style are the practical alternative: they are derivative of the style of 58th Floor, not samples of the audio of 58th Floor.
The sound design of the AI version
When you choose AI-generated bars on the 58th Floor set:
Instrumentation:
- Drum kit: snare, kick, hi-hat on-beat and off-beat
- Bass: deep, rounded, locking with the kick
- Samples: soul guitar, atmospheric pad, reverb tail
- Production: warm, not clinical; vintage tape saturation
Tempo: 91 BPM (matching the original)
Vocal style: Bars written to match the rhyme scheme and flow cadence of the original 58th Floor verse structure
What is NOT included:
- The original vocal samples from Anderson .Paak or Cordae
- The original beat-making choices by J. Cole (no exact sample reproduction)
- Any copyrighted material from Heavy Is The Crown
The generated bars are trained on hip-hop language patterns, not on the specific lyrics of 58th Floor. They follow the cadence and topic (friendship, bars trading, connection) but are always original composition.
Why this matters for posting
TikTok and Instagram policy: Both platforms require you to label realistic AI-generated media as AI. A 58th Floor clip with AI bars meets this definition—it is realistic AI media. Labeling it as AI is legally required and ethically correct.
Sound copyright: Because the audio is generated and not sampled, there is no third-party copyright claim on the audio track. You can post it without worrying about copyright strikes. You still need to label it as AI, but you do not need to credit the original artists or the original producers—the audio is not theirs.
Commercial use: Using a generated clip to sell something requires a commercial license. Using it for personal sharing on social media does not.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the original COLORS audio from YouTube?
No. The original COLORS performance is copyrighted. Downloading and re-uploading it, or using it in your own video, violates copyright. You will get a claim or your video will be removed.
What happens if I upload the original audio as custom audio to this site?
The copyright claim is your responsibility. If you upload copyrighted audio, the rendering platform and this site assume no liability for copyright strikes when you post the video to social media. We recommend you use only audio you own the rights to.
If I use AI-generated bars, do I have to credit Anderson .Paak and Cordae?
No. The bars are original composition by the model, not a sample or cover of the original. You are not required to credit them. You are, however, required to label the video as AI-generated per TikTok and Instagram's policies.
Can I sample the COLORS performance audio if I ask permission?
That would require contacting APESHIT + EMPIRE, Hi Level, Mass Appeal, and likely Anderson .Paak and Cordae's teams directly. Copyright clearance at the individual creator level (rather than for a platform) is expensive and uncommon. For personal video use, AI-generated bars are the practical alternative.
Is the COLORS set officially licensed to 58th Floor AI?
No. The 58th Floor AI set visually recreates the COLORS performance but is not made by or affiliated with COLORS, YouTube, or any official entity. The visual format (teal background, hanging mic, four camera angles, call-and-response structure) is inspired by the COLORS performance. The audio generated for AI videos is never the original recording.
What is the difference between "inspired by" and "copying"?
The 58th Floor AI video set copies the visual format (camera angles, studio setup, edit rhythm) because that is what makes the trend recognizable. It does not copy or sample the audio, the lyrics, or the original performance footage. This is legal because the format—teal studio, one mic, four shots—is not copyrighted. The audio and performance, however, are copyrighted and cannot be reused without permission.
Can I make money from a 58th Floor video?
Not without a commercial license. Videos created with the free or paid credits are for personal and social media sharing. If you want to monetize a 58th Floor clip (sell it, use it in a paid service, include it in a commercial product), you need a commercial license. Check the pricing page for commercial options.
What happens if I watermark or edit the video?
You can edit the video—trim, add captions, layer effects, change aspect ratio. A watermark is fine. Posting a watermarked 58th Floor video to your social account is standard use. Selling the watermarked video or claiming copyright to it is not allowed.
Next steps
Read about the song's sources and the trend's timeline for more context on how 58th Floor went viral.
Check the photo checklist to make sure your upload photos will render well.
Go to the generator and create your first 58th Floor video.