The Strokes Drop Anthony Fantano Diss on New Album, Critic Responds

The New York‑based rock band The Strokes released their seventh studio album, Reality Awaits, on July 24 2026. The record, issued through RCA and the band’s own Cult Records and produced by Rick Rubin, contains the track “Lonely in the Future,” which includes a lyric that directly names music critic Anthony Fantano. The line, “I heard that twenty (expletive) years ago, I did. Fantano, word for word, when I was a kid,” is part of a broader chorus in which lead singer Julian Casablancas also targets other contemporary artists.

Fantano, who has run the YouTube channel The Needle Drop since 2007, has built a reputation for rating songs on a 0‑to‑10 scale and for offering candid reviews. He has been the subject of previous diss tracks, most notably from Brockhampton’s “Zipper” and Post Malone’s “Sugar Wraith.” The most recent controversy began when Casablancas released a single from Reality Awaits that included the reference to Fantano.

In a video posted to his channel over the weekend, Fantano addressed the lyric. He described the diss as “one‑sided at best” and noted that Casablancas has mentioned him on social media and in public conversations. Fantano emphasized that he is a fan of The Strokes and that any criticism he has offered has come from a place of appreciation. He also suggested that the tension may stem from Casablancas’s review of the 2024 The Voidz album, in which he criticized the use of artificial intelligence in the production.

The critic added that he has spent two decades building The Needle Drop brand and that being targeted in a lyric feels “upsetting and personally disheartening.” Despite the sting, Fantano said he would purchase the album, stating, “how am I going to sit here and not own a physical copy of the one Strokes album that has my name on it?”

Reality Awaits is the first Strokes album in six years, following 2020’s The New Abnormal, which won Best Rock Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The new record is supported by an extensive world tour that began in June at Bonnaroo and will continue through October, covering North America, Europe, and Japan. The tour schedule and album release were announced in early July, with the band’s official website listing dates and ticket information.

Casablancas’s lyric also names other pop figures such as John Legend, The Weeknd, and Josh Groban. The track’s broader context is a critique of contemporary music culture, a theme that has appeared in Casablancas’s solo work and his experimental band The Voidz. The Voidz released Like All Before You in 2024, and the band’s experimental direction has occasionally drawn criticism from mainstream reviewers.

The diss has sparked discussion on social media platforms. Fans of The Strokes have debated whether the lyric is a genuine critique or a playful jab, while followers of Fantano have expressed support for the critic’s right to respond. The incident follows a prior feud with singer Halsey, who called Fantano a “4‑chan raised edgelord bully” after a review of her album The Great Impersonator.

At present, the only confirmed outcome is Fantano’s statement that he will purchase the album. No official response from Casablancas or the band’s management has been released. The situation remains a point of conversation among music journalists, critics, and fans, illustrating the continuing intersection of online criticism and artist commentary in the digital age.

The next development will likely come from the band’s official channels as the Reality Awaits tour progresses, or from Fantano’s own content as he continues to review new releases and respond to industry events.