Blab Music
The Strokes Diss Anthony Fantano on New Album "Reality Awaits"
When The Strokes dropped their seventh studio album, the band didn’t just deliver another collection of songs—they dropped a lyrical jab straight at one of streaming’s most vocal critics. The track 'Lonely in the Future' opens with lead singer Julian Casablancas calling out music blogger Anthony Fantano by name, a move that has already sparked a public response on the critic’s own YouTube channel.
In the chorus, Casablancas declares, 'I heard that twenty (expletive) years ago, I did. Fantano, word for word, when I was a kid. Stick to the technical ’cause that’s great. But you would not recognize art in any age.' The lyric is followed by nods to contemporary artists such as John Legend, The Weeknd, Josh Groban, Harry Styles, and Drake, framing the track as a relaxed yet pointed rebuke of critics.
Fantano posted a video over the weekend in which he dismissed the diss as 'one‑sided at best.' He emphasized that he has long been a fan of The Strokes and of Casablancas’ songwriting, saying, 'I am a fan of Julian’s work. The Strokes are easily one of my favorite bands of the 2000s.' He added that his criticism of Casablancas’ recent work with The Voidz—particularly the use of artificial intelligence on the 2024 album—may have contributed to the tension.
The critic also referenced a prior confrontation with singer Halsey earlier in the year, describing it as a separate incident. 'I have stood ten toes down for my reviews, for my content, for the legacy I have built up until this point,' Fantano said. 'It is upsetting and personally disheartening to me when I am confronted with these bunk assessments of me and what I do.'
Despite the diss, Fantano indicated that he would purchase the album. 'How am I going to sit here and not own a physical copy of the one Strokes album that has my name on it? In fact, I’m going to order that thing right now,' he said.
'Reality Awaits' follows a six‑year gap after 2020’s 'The New Abnormal,' which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Released through RCA Records—the label the band has been with since their debut—the lineup of Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture, and Fabrizio Moretti remains unchanged from the group’s formation in 1998.
The diss is part of a broader pattern of artists referencing Fantano in their work. Brockhampton’s 'Zipper' includes the line 'Head was clean, Tony Fantano,' and Post Malone’s 'Sugar Wraith' contains the lyric 'Your new (expletive) sucks, I feel like Anthony Fantano.' The Strokes’ own history of calling out other musicians—such as the nods to The Weeknd and Drake in 'Lonely in the Future'—continues that tradition.
The incident underscores the continuing relevance of online music criticism in the streaming era. Fantano’s platform, The Needle Drop, has built a following of over a million subscribers by providing in‑depth reviews and commentary, and the band’s decision to name the critic in a track demonstrates how artists can use their music to engage with digital media personalities.
As of now, no further statements have been issued by either party. Fantano’s video suggests he is prepared to accept the criticism while maintaining his support for the band. The Strokes have not released a public response beyond the lyric itself. The album is available on all major streaming services, and physical copies are in production. Fans of either the band or the critic can expect to hear the diss track on the album’s official release date, July 24, 2026.
In the chorus, Casablancas declares, 'I heard that twenty (expletive) years ago, I did. Fantano, word for word, when I was a kid. Stick to the technical ’cause that’s great. But you would not recognize art in any age.' The lyric is followed by nods to contemporary artists such as John Legend, The Weeknd, Josh Groban, Harry Styles, and Drake, framing the track as a relaxed yet pointed rebuke of critics.
Fantano posted a video over the weekend in which he dismissed the diss as 'one‑sided at best.' He emphasized that he has long been a fan of The Strokes and of Casablancas’ songwriting, saying, 'I am a fan of Julian’s work. The Strokes are easily one of my favorite bands of the 2000s.' He added that his criticism of Casablancas’ recent work with The Voidz—particularly the use of artificial intelligence on the 2024 album—may have contributed to the tension.
The critic also referenced a prior confrontation with singer Halsey earlier in the year, describing it as a separate incident. 'I have stood ten toes down for my reviews, for my content, for the legacy I have built up until this point,' Fantano said. 'It is upsetting and personally disheartening to me when I am confronted with these bunk assessments of me and what I do.'
Despite the diss, Fantano indicated that he would purchase the album. 'How am I going to sit here and not own a physical copy of the one Strokes album that has my name on it? In fact, I’m going to order that thing right now,' he said.
'Reality Awaits' follows a six‑year gap after 2020’s 'The New Abnormal,' which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Released through RCA Records—the label the band has been with since their debut—the lineup of Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi, Albert Hammond Jr., Nikolai Fraiture, and Fabrizio Moretti remains unchanged from the group’s formation in 1998.
The diss is part of a broader pattern of artists referencing Fantano in their work. Brockhampton’s 'Zipper' includes the line 'Head was clean, Tony Fantano,' and Post Malone’s 'Sugar Wraith' contains the lyric 'Your new (expletive) sucks, I feel like Anthony Fantano.' The Strokes’ own history of calling out other musicians—such as the nods to The Weeknd and Drake in 'Lonely in the Future'—continues that tradition.
The incident underscores the continuing relevance of online music criticism in the streaming era. Fantano’s platform, The Needle Drop, has built a following of over a million subscribers by providing in‑depth reviews and commentary, and the band’s decision to name the critic in a track demonstrates how artists can use their music to engage with digital media personalities.
As of now, no further statements have been issued by either party. Fantano’s video suggests he is prepared to accept the criticism while maintaining his support for the band. The Strokes have not released a public response beyond the lyric itself. The album is available on all major streaming services, and physical copies are in production. Fans of either the band or the critic can expect to hear the diss track on the album’s official release date, July 24, 2026.
