Maybe a week ago, I was having a discussion with a youngster about Hip Hop. The homie is 24. In my book that makes him young enough to have been an infant during the Golden Age.
Anyways, I was trying to figure out a way to gauge his ear so I asked him to name three emcees he thought were underrated. His answer: Chance, Childish, and Lupe.
Chance got props for his tape, so I’m not sure he qualifies. I think Childish is overrated. I concurred with the Lupe assessment.
This morning, after firing off a reply to an email to a client of which the gist was “learn how to keep good help”, I go on Hiphopdx.com. As much as I loathe most of the stuff they post, every once in awhile they post something worthwhile.
Today, it was a post mentioning Lupe’s forthcoming “Lost in the Atlantic Ocean”. The tl;dr (that’s nerd talk for “long story short”) is that Atlantic won’t release “Tetsuo & Youth” album without a “pop single.”
Lupe is always getting into it with the folks at Atlantic, so nothing new here. What made me laugh though was:
“ATLANTIC RECORDS won’t release the album until they get a “pop” single…so putting together a mini-project while they find one for me.
I can imagine Lupe’s conversation with the label folks.
Label: “Listen Lupe, you know how this works. We need something that can energize folks you know. Give them something catchy like that ‘Lifestyle’ song.”
Lupe: “You’re right. How about you find me a song. In the meantime, I’m going to go make a tape.”
Yo, you may not fuck with Lupe’s music, but you have to at least acknowledge the homie is a class act. I think this is lost on folks.
Name another rapper with a major label deal who 1) has enough support to have folks picket outside label offices; 2) have a petition started to get the label to release a delayed album; and 3) can actually make a hit record containing substance. (editor’s note: I probably should have linked to “Next to It“.
Not Yeezy.
The reason I fucks with L is not about lyrics or consciousness or even on some rap shit. It’s because I can relate to a man waking up going to work, doing his best, and being told to go do something mediocre. Of course the label folks figure he’ll come around if they hold the album up. His reply: “fuck you, I’ll go make some music for my fans and give it away”.
Listen, I’m not writing to fan any flames. Loop a grown ass man. Moreover, I’m not oblivious to the plights facing the recording industry.
I’m writing this because something different needs to happen, and I can’t think of anyone better to sit down with and figure out that something. But damn, at what point do they say “fuck it, Lupe done done the damn thing in the past, let’s ride with the homie”.
To set a standard and not compromise that standard is the definition of “integrity”. Ain’t that many folks with integrity walking around, and it’s even fewer rapping. The world in general, and Hip Hop specifically, does not have enough of these folks. That’s why I fux with Lupe.
I’m not gonna front, I don’t own a single Lupe album, but the next time the homie does a show in my city I’m copping two tickets.
Maybe I’ll bring the youngster.
therapzuckerberg 