To say the least, 2012 has been a trying year for Lupe Fiasco. According to an article in The Huffington Post, Lupe is planning on retiring after his latest album, “Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album.” I immediately became disheartened upon reading this news….and then I found out why. After spending the better part of the last few years battling it out for creative control with his label, Atlantic Records, he has been needlessly catching a lot of flack in all different directions- even though he hasn't started any beef with anyone. He's all about putting out music that he, himself can be proud of- and for that, he's been criticized left and right from his record company, journalists, producers, and even other fellow Chicago rappers. I guess that’s enough to make anyone want to retire by the ripe old age of 30. .
First off, there’s the beef with Pete Rock over the sample of the legendary song, “T.R.O.Y. (They Reminisce Over You)” used in Lupe’s song, “Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free). The misunderstanding stemmed from the fact that Rock had given Lupe permission to use the iconic beat from T.R.O.Y; however it was Rock's understanding that he would be involved in the making of the song. After not hearing anything from Lupe's people, Rock heard the song on the radio and immediately went to Twitter to express his disgust. Read Pete Rock's comments here. Rock later apologized for the comments by using the excuse, "My Emotions Got The Best of Me." Lupe went on CNN and expressed that he thought that he was paying homage to the original song by introducing it to a whole new generation. I understand that Pete Rock is a Hip-Hop legend, and the song T.R.O.Y. is a Hip-Hop classic. I also understand that both Troy "Trouble T-Roy" Dixon (the song's subject) and Heavy D were close friends of his, so the song had alot of personal meaning to him....I Get That...But I personally think that he should have thought before he tweeted such an public, emotional rant. As a celebrity, you know that thousands, if not millions of people follow you on Twitter, and you know the effect that one harsh tweet can have on a person's career. Even if he felt some type of way about the song being released without his involvement, he should have gotten in touch with Lupe directly and the beef should have been settled quietly amongst men. Instead, knowing how all the world loves a scandal, he set out to humiliate Lupe by posting his feelings on a public venue for all the world to see. The episode caused quite a stir in the Hip-Hop Community, ending with Rock eventually apologizing for his remarks. Lesson of the Day: THINK BEFORE YOU TWEET.
Next, there’s the Spin Magazine article and surrounding controversy over the song “Bitch Bad." Now I'll even admit that when I first heard the title of the song, I was surprised that Lupe had a song with such a controversial word in the title. But I realized that this is Lupe Fiasco, so there must be a point that he was trying make with the song....and there was. The song explores what the word, "Bitch" means in the Hip-Hop community, and the negative effect that it can have on future generations. The hook goes, "Bitch Bad, Woman Good, Lady Better, Hey Misunderstood." The video for the song depicts a young boy listening to a song on the radio with his mother, who is referring to herself as a “Bad Bitch.” He sees that word as a sign of respect because his mother referred to herself as such. Then, the next scene focuses on a young girl and her friends are watching a music video where a “Bad Bitch” is something to be glorified. He related the fake rapper in the video, and the scantily-clad woman dancing around him to being nothing more than part of a modern-day minstrel show, complete with “blackface” and all. Finally, the last scene shows both the boy and girl, now much older, and the girl is trying to emulate the images that she saw in the video just so that she can win the boy’s affection. The boy rejects her advances because he feels that she is a bad “bad bitch,” according to his definition. The meaning of the word gets misconstrued on both ends, and even more so, by the time that they are older. Now neither of them has an accurate definition of what the word means, but they each think of it as being a badge of honor for different reasons.
In the article titled, “Lupe Fiasco Mansplains Some More in the Video for ‘Bitch Bad,” by Spin Magazine Journalist, Brian Soderberg, he chastises Fiasco for “preaching to the converted,” He basically says that Lupe is overreacting and that the type of buffoonery that the video suggests happens in real-life Hip-Hop, simply “does not represent what rap music actually looks and sounds like in 2012.” He even goes as far as saying, “But Does Any Female Want to be Called a Lady?” It just goes to show how completely out of touch this clown is about the female gender, and about society, in general. The debate became so heated that it generated the hashtag, #BoycottSpin on Twitter. It also sparked a debate about use of the blatant use of the word in popular culture, and how it is just overlooked as a “term of endearment” by many. What is even sadder is that many women accept this label and even go as far as to endorse it. Look it up in the dictionary…Simply put, the word means “female dog.” It is my opinion that you don’t call someone something that you wouldn't want said to your mother. As not only women, but especially, women of color, we have to have more respect for ourselves than that. We have a responsibility to teach our children to have more respect for themselves than that. What would you want people to remember you for being, a “Bad Bitch,” or an “Educated Grown Woman?” Personally, I’d go for the latter any day….
Lastly, you've got the Twitter Rants from 17-year old “so called” Chicago rapper, Chief Keef, who has flat out threatened Lupe on the social media site; claiming that he would “smack him when he sees him.” In like fashion as celebrities do after they made a “goof-up,” he claimed that his Twitter account was hacked, and that he did not write those messages- just as he did about his negative tweets regarding other artists. Now if you haven’t heard, Chief Keef is quickly developing a reputation of being one of the more notorious rappers as of late- promoting and celebrating murder and gang violence in his music. When asked about the recent exploding murder rate in Chicago, Lupe said to Baltimore’s 92Q, “Chief Keef scares me. Not him specifically, but just the culture that he represents. The murder rate in Chicago is skyrocketing and you see who’s doing it and perpetrating it, they all look like Chief Keef.” Keef, who is currently being investigated by police for possible connection to the death of up-and-coming fellow Chicago rapper, Lil Jojo, mocked the slain rapper’s death on Twitter just hours afterwards. You heard me correct Ladies and Gentleman….17 years old….So instead of being in high school, learning how to be somebody- this cat has more money than he knows what to do with, and is instead, learning how to end up in prison and become somebody’s fool. It’s really sad to think about. This is somebody’s child, and even more disturbing is that record executives are eating it up in an attempt to start fake drama and in turn, sell more records.
"I'ma Part of the Problem, The Problem is I'm Peaceful....And I Believe in the People"
- Lupe Fiasco ( from the song, "Words I Never Said")
At the end of the day, I think all that Lupe is trying to do is make music that he can be proud of, and say what's in his heart. As a songwriter and musician, I totally GET that. Being able to express yourself creatively is the reason why so many of us do what we do. Not for the money, or the fame, but just so that our voice, and our message can be heard. Unfortunately, in a culture that is so heavily intrigued by celebrities and celebrity status, it is very easy for an artist’s words to get misconstrued, or even taken completely out of context from their actual meaning. The thing about Lupe is that he doesn't fit in any one precise cookie-cutter box that record executives deem “marketable;” and he doesn't try to be. He simply says what’s on his mind, and if the public likes it, then “Great.” If they don’t, then that is their loss. He essentially has an indie mentality on major label, and for that he’s been persecuted by music journalists as being “too militant,” or “too controversial” for mainstream Hip-Hop. Yes, he’s got a lot to say; but then again, there’s a lot that we need to hear. The issues (especially within the Black Community), that get pushed aside and written off as being “Only Entertainment,” are ones that have gone ignored for far too long. Issues that no one wants to talk about for fear of it alienating their respective audience. It would seem as though many in the listening public don't care to be educated anymore; they don't want to be informed about what's going on in their world, and how they could maybe help be apart of the solution. In fact, many listeners of mainstream Top 40, seem to only care about partying it up in the club, and "dancing until the world ends" (unfortunately, that's a REAL quote from an actual song). Well that's OK then..."to each his own." That is just obviously NOT Lupe's fan base. Not saying that he doesn't do feel good songs mixed in with conscious Hip-Hop, but his music possesses much more substance than what is typically considered mainstream, and is obviously for those of us that appreciate real music and clever lyricism.
Lupe, if you’re reading this, I feel it is my duty, along with the rest of the listening public to plead with you to seriously reconsider retiring from the game of Hip-Hop. In an industry that is so over-concerned with image, as opposed to actual content, you voice is desperately needed. Everyone in our history who has brought forth messages that we, as a people needed to hear, has not done so without coming under fire for it in some way. I can understand your frustration with the industry; as there are many fans who are frustrated with it too…so I can only imagine what it is like from an artist perspective. Even if you decide to break free from the chains of the major label structure and go independent, please don’t stop putting out new and groundbreaking material. We need someone to lead the movement for change in Hip-Hop, as a genre, if it is to ever survive.
Until Next Time.....
Sources:
Lupe Fiasco Retires? Rapper Says He’s Done After Chief Keef Attacks Him on Twitter. Kia Makarechi. The Huffington Post 9/6/12.
Lupe Fiasco Mansplains Some More in the Video for ‘Bitch Bad. Brian Soderberg. Spin Magazine. 8/23/12
Q&A: Lupe Fiasco on Tupac, Album Leaks,and Leaving the Game. Matthew Trammel. Rolling Stone. 8/27/12
Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy ‘T.R.O.Y.’ Bite. Christopher Weingarten, Spin Magazine. 5/22/12