Lupe Fisaco’s Takes on the Music Industry with Blistering Rap
I confess that I missed this until it appeared in a Bob Lefsetz newsletter. Check out Ludpe Fiasco’s comments on the state of the music industry on a recent mixtape.
There’s a lot of industry jargon in this verse but the links lead to helpful explanations of each line.
Oh shit alert, Louis clothes
Callin women bitches, Louboutin and Gucci shows
Well, I guess there goes my Louis shows
More O shit, if your role model’s a movie role
And if you live your life like it’s a studio
Talkin’ to us like we mics, a bunch of you ain’t do befo’
Electric fences for a urinal
Also keep a toaster in my jacuzzi, yo
Shock-a-zulu, call me Wasalu II
Oh shit, man these record labels prostitute you
Strap them to sushi bars, and feed em lots of fugu
Catch a bad piece
You can stick that 360 between your asscheeks
Artists let’s mobilize and unionize like the athletes
Radio is making our craft weak
Forced to repeat the same dumb shit that work
Only as hot as your last beat
And rappers, they relating to that last piece
Album never leave they desk if you don’t got no B.D.S
Sacrifice your publishin’, they said you really need a hook
And they ain’t gon’ pay you, said that you received a look
And what’s stupid real, is what producers feel
Twenty placements or you stuck in that producer deal
And R&B chicks so get it the wildest
All they money goes to hairdressers and stylists
Gotta keep up with that image
Label lose they mind if they ever see a blemish
ProActiv and peels, airbrushers and trainers
Managers suggest you fuck a nigga to be famous, huh
But it’s all entertainment
Wonder when Cobain blew out his brains, did he blame it?
And if those snakes in the industry helped him aim it
Started pressing up records before the bullet left the chamber
I fight evil, everyday I’m livin’
Rest in peace to men, women and the children
And middle fingers to the Pilgrims that killed ’em
Friend of the People, happy Thanksgiving
