Lupe Fiasco

Hip Hop music and culture is at an interesting place, in an interesting time.  It’s perhaps more diverse than it’s ever been, and while there’s a lot of whack shit out there, I feel like it’s recovering from it’s lowest point of ringtone rap and the McDonald’s style mass production of copy cats beats and empty rhymes. I’m on the verge of turning 30, and I realize that there is a whole generation of Hip Hop kids under me, who’s reference points are much different. While I was a teenager during the height of Rawkus Records, birth of Bad Boy, and rise of Roc-a-fella, some of my younger counterparts aren’t familiar with the Razorblade, missed out on the brilliance of Ma$e and Craig Mack, and only know the Jay-Z that is represented by dead-fucking-presidents.  I feel like it’s time to recognize a new batch of classic Hip Hop records that can sit next to “Today Was A Good Day”, “’93 Til Infinity”, “Paul Revere”, “Don’t Sweat The Technique” and countless others.  This column is my contribution to that discussion, and a look at newer Hip Hop songs that should be in the running for classic status. Feel free to join the debate.

I want to start this column off with “Superstar” by Lupe Fiasco.  I already know that there’s gonna be questions like, ‘why start with that?!’  or  thoughts like ‘that’s way to new to be a classic!’ or maybe even some, ‘you’re just putting that up cause you’re from the Chi!’  Well, I can see those criticisms, and I can answer them.  It’d be easy to kick this off with “Simon Says”, “Get By”, “Ha”, fucking “Hardknock Life” but what’s the fun in that? I hope this stirs some ‘hell naw’s…’  That’s the point.

“Superstar” is roughly 5 years old.  I remember hearing it for the first time when Lupe played it at Lollapalooza in the summer of 2007.  I got that feeling, you know, that feeling when you hear something really dope for the first time. You can call it the chills, whatever you like, but I got it.  Lupe was coming off a ridiculously successful debut in Food & Liquor (an album that I put up there with any great debut LP’s).  It was socially relevant, full of substance, and full of BARS!  Hip Hop rejoiced in the emergence of Cornell Westside, and I myself felt a new sense of hope after suffering through Dem Franchize Boys, and shit like “Laffy Taffy”.  Being smart was beginning to be cool again, and Lupe was leading the charge.

Lupe Fiasco

So, as Lupe began work on new music, he had the spotlight on him, dead center.  He was a new hope for Chicago Hip Hop, and Hip Hop as a whole.  And what did he do? He makes a song addressing all of it, and putting himself on the line.  “If you are what you say you are,” Matthew Santos sings on the hook.  If you are a superstar, go prove it.  If this is what you want, take it. Take the good, take the bad, take everything.  It’s time to step up or time to bounce.

Lupe also did a great job of looking at superstardom from different viewpoints.  All at once Lupe is the hungry artist looking at the music business from the outside, as well as one beginning to experience its benefits and its drawbacks.  He’s also able to be a fan waiting on their favorite artists, plus an artist that through all the burnout that comes with the spotlight, “doesn’t want it to fade.”  It’s a great concept record, a great narrative, great lyrics, big production, and a case of Lupe testing his own mettle.Say what you will about L.A.S.E.R.S., and everything else, but “Superstar” bangs and there’s no fucking with Lupe’s first two LP’s.

I feel “Superstar” definitely deserves that classic status.  If you agree or disagree, hit the comment section, hit me on twitter, or send me an email… I love this game.  I’m going to be adding to this list each week, let’s see where this goes.