DEEP INTO
LUPE FIASCO
__________________________
Lupe Fiasco Mansplains
Misogyny on
Counterproductive
'Bitch Bad'
Lupe Fiasco
"Who you callin' a bitch?" rages Queen Latifah, on her jazz-sampling single "U.N.I.T.Y.," originally released on the 1993 album Black Reign. "I'm a bad bitch / I'm a, I'm a bad bitch," repeats Nicki Minaj on her fire-breathing 2009 mixtape cut "Itty Bitty Piggy"; "I'm a bad bitch / I'm a cunt," she adds on 2011 debut LP Pink Friday's "Roman's Revenge," and that last word is one that newer New York rapper Azealia Banks has since all but made her trademark. Clearly, something has changed in hip-hop's relationship with anti-woman slurs over the past two decades, and that's ostensibly what Lupe Fiasco tries to address on "Bitch Bad," the second track to emerge from his long-delayed Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album (due out September 25 on Atlantic).
Give Lupe the benefit of the doubt, and his point, while arguable, makes a certain amount of sense: Even as young women reclaim the idea of a "bad bitch" to describe their own power and sexuality, young men might continue to see them as a different kind of "bitch," thus perpetuating the cycle of misogyny rather than ending it. All right, then. Unfortunately, "Bitch Bad" fails to offer listeners many reasons to hear him out, what with its stilted flow (or lack thereof) and painfully sanctimonious tone. After introducing his two-dimensional characters with all the grace of a lecture, Lupe concludes his argument with this impossible tangle: "Bad mean good to her, she really nice and smart / But bad mean bad to him, bitch don't play your part / But bitch still bad to her if you say it the wrong way / But she think she a bitch, what a double entendre." At least the snare-heavy production by past collaborators the Audibles probably won't piss off Pete Rock.
The worst part is that Lupe's clumsily didactic attempt to restore hip-hop consciousness comes at a time when other rappers have shown you don't have to be a scold to have a moral center. From Das Racist and BBU to Killer Mike and Big K.R.I.T., more and more MCs are remembering how to make rap that has a political charge without sounding like Tipper Gore. Sure, Lupe's heart sounds like it's probably in the right place. But as the latest star-studded remix of M.I.A.'s excellent "Bad Girls" make clear, bad girls do it well — and if boys can't do it better, they have only themselves to blame.
In typical Lupe Fiasco fashion, this song breaks down the phrase “bad bitch” and flips it around, telling a story about “bitch bad.” Lupe has been supporting this “movement” for quite some time — there is a line in his 2006 song “Hurt Me Soul” (Omitting the word “bitch,” cursing – I wouldn’t say it).
I like the message in the song, but it doesn’t seem like Lupe spent much time creating this song. The rhyme scheme is a bit weak compared to some of Lupe’s other songs. What do you guys think? Is the message strong enough to make the song good?
Wasalu and I are on a first name basis, so if you see me say Wasalu instead of Lupe Fiasco, that’s why. He’s the best lyricist.
Wasalu drops his first single off of Food & Liquor 2. THANK GOD.
I’ve been missing this guy and this sounds more like his music rather than Atlantic’s bull shit. Song is available on iTunes at midnight.
The first sense I get from Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free) is that he’s retracing his steps back to his “The Cool” & “Food & Liquor” days, and putting Lasers in the past. Thank. Fucking. God. This is an excellent start and I’m eager to see what else he has in store for us after watching this, specifically, Form Follows Function (refer to video).
There’s two artist I’ll always be with through thick and thin (pause). Wasalu and Scott Mescudi. All hail Wasalu!
Two brand new videos from Lupe Fiasco. I will talk about them separately.
Up first, the single from Lupe Fiasco’s “forced” sell out CD, Lasers (I hate Atlantic), I Don’t Wanna Care Right Now. This video disgusts me. Outside of KiD CuDi, Lupe Fiasco is my favorite artist. To watch something like this, and listen to his simplistic lyrics, all because of Atlantic Records forcing him to “sell out” makes me sick to my stomach. I wan’t “Food & Liquor” and “The Cool” Lupe back. Not this Lasers bullshit. I will still support him till the day I die, so check out the video anyways.
Second, his video for Double Burger With Cheese. Now this is the awesome Lupe. And he’s not even in it. It has actual meaning. Not about having a tour bus with a lot of women (refer to the above video).This comes from his latest mixtape, Friend of The People. What is it? Two more albums until his deal is up with Atlantic? Can’t. Fuckin. Wait.
Let loose via his twitter, Lupe Fiasco gives us a brand new song that sounds like classic Lupe and not that Atlantic bullshit/controlled Lupe. Check errrr out!
Hulkshare: Lupe Fiasco – American Terrorist III
This past Turkey Day, Lupe Fiasco thanked us all by dropping Friend of the People, a mixtape busting at its seams with some of the hottest electro artists today. After giving it some spins, I wanted to share one of my favorite cuts from the album, which also happens to be the title track. Lu and his homie Dosage trade bars over SebastiAn’s “Jack Wire,” a two-step filled with rugged synths and roaring snares. #OccupyFiasco.
Jesus. Thanksgiving just got a little better. Lu’s long awaited mixtape, Friend of the People, has finally dropped via Twitter. I imagine this is what it felt like when the Indians and Pilgrims first got together–only with way more dope rhymes. Stuff your face and your ears on this joyous occasion. FNF UP!
DOWNLOAD: Lupe Fiasco – “Friend of the People”
Lupe Fiasco – “The End of the World”
I have two favorites in the music industry. My favorite artist: KiD CuDi. My favorite rapper: Wasalu(or better known as Lupe Fiasco). Correct me if I’m wrong, but I am pretty sure this is Lu’s first attempt at doing a type of song like this? Whatever, I like it. Then again, I’d like anything this dude puts out. This is the first single for a new mixtape dropping on Thanksgiving called Friend Of The People. Listen up to one of the best lyricists out there!
Hulkshare: Lupe Fiasco ft. Ellie Goulding & Bassnectar – LightWork
Lupe Fiasco Logs Off
On His Twitter Account
Recently during a Twitter conversation to his fans, rapper Lupe Fiasco revealed that he will no longer be posting messages (tweets). Instead of deleting the profile, he is allowing up-and-coming singer Nikki Jean, take over the tweets. In his farewell to Twitter, Lupe announced: “I’m quitting twitter. It was fun while it lasted… thanks for the support on (his album) #lasers and i will see you all on the road soon…u know what??? i’m gonna let @Nikkijean takeover my twitter… u might remember we did a little track called ‘hip hop saved my life’ together…”