Song Of 2011 - The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco

This song was actually released in 2010, but I only discovered it in 2011, so I’m naming it as my song of 2011. It’s truly uplifting, and has a truly fantastic beat. This is definitely one of my top ten songs of all time, and is definitely the best song I’ve heard in the past twelve months. 

Optimism - The show always goes on

“So no matter what you been though, no matter what you into / No matter what you see when you look outside your window / Brown grass or green grass / picket fence or barbed wire / Never ever put them down, you just lift your arms higher.”

(via theyellowstripe):

Words I Never Said | First-class lyrics and a strong message

The king of conscious rap drops an incendiary message here, criticising Obama (a black rapper? Hell naw) and telling us all to address our passivity. The slightly jaded beat from Alex da Kid can’t detract from the sheer lyrical strength.

Lupe Fiasco’s second single is backed by a beat from the same UK talent that orchestrated Love The Way You Lie and I Need A Doctor - the latter of which also lending Skylar Grey to sing between the verses. The characteristic crashing beat and stadium-filling hook are effectively recycled here, but I hope this isn’t a sign that our new beatmaker is a one-trick pony. Nonetheless, it provides a solid foundation for a lyrical tour de force. No, really.

I suppose you could say this is something of a sequel to American Terrorist - except that here Lupe focuses on his disgust at those who think ‘just listenin’ to Pac’ will have any real effect on America’s dubious foreign policy. There isn’t much to say about this song without simply quoting the masterful lyrics. The first verse is absolutely bananas, containing a line right up there with his best: ‘If you turn on TV, all you see’s a bunch of what-the-fucks / Dude is dating so-and-so, blabbering ‘bout such-and-such / And that ain’t Jersey Shore / Homie that’s the news! / And these the same people supposedly telling us the truth!’

It’s controversial, perhaps, but well worth hearing:

(Source: simoncamp)

(via theyellowstripe)

The Show Goes On | A truly uplifting opener from Lupe

The rapper on a mission to bring intelligent rap to the masses releases a very capable first official single from the much-anticipated Lasers. The stellar production complement Lupe’s excellent sense of rhythm nicely.

It is a shame Lupe has described this song as ‘one of the terms of surrender’ between him and Atlantic Records, because it is actually pretty damn good. To be honest, anything that brings Lasers a little closer is great, considering how damn long his fans have been waiting while he and his record company played a game of showbiz battleships, but this track is an uplifting joy that deserves all the airplay it gets.

Lyrically, it’s not really on a par with other Lupe lyrical masterpieces like Dumb It Down or Hip-Hop Saved My Life, but it’s no slouch either. Kane Beatz handles the production here, sampling Modest Mouse’s Float On pretty much melody-for-melody to brilliant effect. The chorus is triumphant, the lyrics are empowering and Lupe’s unique voice and habit of frequently switching rhythm bring touches of the old Fiasco charm to this single. Lasers should be released March 8th - bring it on.

(Source: simoncamp)