dark shadow

Anyone hear the new single?
Damn near epic in my opinion.
I get kinda turned off by some of the lines being so blunt and unscripted always, but i think that was kinda the point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujfw8ewTM_g

djchameleon

I'll fix that for you here

yes I heard it. I heard it about 30 mins after it was released and it has been on repeat for a looooong time.

I think everyone should hear it. He says a few things that I have been saying for years especially about Muslims. I also didn't vote for Obama but for a different reason than he stated.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

pourmeanother

It almost seems political for the sake of being political. It's pretty good, it's just a lot to keep up with. The theme is?... the World is ****ed up. I do like the last verse though, where the point finally comes through.

__________________
Life is just blah, blah, blah
You hope for blah
And sometimes you find it, but mostly it's blah
And waiting for blah
And hoping you were right about the blahs you made
And then, just when you think you've got the whole blah'd damn thing figured out
And you're surrounded by the ones you blah
Death shows up... anddd blah, blah, blah.

djchameleon

I think the point comes through from the chorus which is stated at the beginning of the song. words he has never said. He wants to vent a bit about a lot of political issues because he doesn't say those words much and he has a lot on his mind.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

djchameleon

Here is an interview from him. Apparently he visits New Zealand quite often.


Since his album is coming out soon there are about four unreleased tracks that have been leaked. Some may or may not be on the album. I'm not sure yet.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

pourmeanother

"I Don't Want to Care" and "All Black Everything" are both on Lasers.

New tracks out today: "Out of My Head" with Trey Songz, and "Coming Up" with MDMA. About half of the tracks have, at some point, been officially released- and we're only a week away now. La-... -sers...

__________________
Life is just blah, blah, blah
You hope for blah
And sometimes you find it, but mostly it's blah
And waiting for blah
And hoping you were right about the blahs you made
And then, just when you think you've got the whole blah'd damn thing figured out
And you're surrounded by the ones you blah
Death shows up... anddd blah, blah, blah.

djchameleon

Lasers leaked ya'll and it's awesome...PM if you want a link

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

billyjerome

You got part of that statement right. Lasers DID leak but it is NOT awesome. 3 years of Atlantic refusing to release his album until they heard something for the masses really did a number on him. No blame is being cast on Lupe, though. He is now two albums from being out of contract with Atlantic, and man, I cannot wait. I enjoyed "The Show Goes On" for awhile, until ESPN killed it. The only other song that stood out was "All Black Everything". With a very cool Jimmy Durante sample and badass concept for lyrics, it is quite awesome.

Don't Be So You, Lupe!

Here's looking forward from this....fiasco. Couldn't resist.

__________________

djchameleon

I will break down a majority of the album and tell you why it is awesome imo.

You probably don't like it because you are don't really like the whole electronic scene and that's fine/understandable but it goes with the whole idea of lasers, lights electronics get it? it's a theme. Lasers isn't just about the electronic sound though. It's also about sending out positive vibes which as Dirty and other shoutys know I've been known to do on occasion. People need to give him more credit for this album than they are though especially if they are true Lupe fans. just go straight to the lyrics and pay attention.


He addresses his fight with Atlantic Records on the very FIRST track

"Letting You Go"
He talks about how he hates having to perform two different types of roles the commercial side which is throwaway fluff dumb it down type tracks and then his true creative side which is deeper.

"Words I Never Said"
He decided to go a political with this track which I loved and it's probably my 3rd favorite track on the album

the highlight of this track are these lyrics

I think that all the silence is worse than all violence
Fear is such a weak emotion, that's why I despise it
We're scared of almost everything, afraid to even tell the truth
So scared of what you think of me, I'm scared of even telling you
Sometimes I'm like the only person I feel safe to tell it to
I'm locked inside a cell in me, I know that there's a jail in you
Consider this your bailing out, so take a breath inhale a few
My screams is finally gettin free, my thoughts is finally yellin through!

"Til I Get There"
On this track he decides to go back to bitching about Atlantic Records again by this time he tells the fans to just wait through his highs and lows. Once he gets there it will be worth it. He's basically talking about getting through the next two albums under Atlantic Records.

"I Don't Want To Care Right Now"
I really attached to this track and it's usually the first one I play when I want to start listening to this album.

The only part of the phrase that I don't like is the "want to care" I wish it was just I don't care right now. It's like he doesn't want to get but he has to care. I guess I understand him saying "want" because he does NEED to care. He needs to care because he's sending out some very strong messages and he wants to be responsible about it.

"Out Of My Head"
This is a straight radio single for the ladies. He got Trey Songz to jump on the track with him. I like it even though it's not riddled with a super deep message. Not everything he does needs to be deep. plus this track seems like it's to make Atlantic Records happy.

"The Show Goes On" I won't really discuss his singles that have been out awhile too much. Everyone has heard them and know what they are about.

"Beautiful Lasers(2 ways)" He mentions that his heart has been broke for awhile and yours is the only one keeping me alive. I feel like this might be a message to his fans that helped him getting this album put out by picketing Atlantic Records

sometimes living in a world like this
is pretty hard not to go insane
not pretty if you don't comply
pretty easy if you don't complain
stand there like you don't feel pain
no tears in the face of defeat
pretend to the end that you don't feel change

I feel like these lyrics right here gives the jist/feeling of the whole song. Another very good track imo.

"Coming Up" I normally skip over this track but I will touch on it a little bit.

This song seems like he's talking to a daughter but it can relate to a son or even people that are pretty poor and they are working their way up the ladder to obtain wealth.

He briefly touches on the fact that he used to sell drugs and a fan asking him why he doesn't rap about that but he says that's it is in his past and it's negative stuff and he rather rap about his present and where he is heading in his future.

"State Run Radio"
He basically puts radio stations on blast for playing the same crap over and over again. For those people that think inside the box and to never play anything that is too different or risky. The only let out the safe songs that they feel should be number 1.

You must be, a radio station
And who are we, we must be
the number 1 songs, spinning all day long
and over again, and over again, and over again, and never again, and never again
And we know when,
when we call in,
and nothings free,
sounds to me like,
state run radio x8

You're now tuned into the weakest,
frequency of fear, keep you locked right here,
and hope you never leave this, never be a leader,
think inside the box, and follow all procedures,
never ever believe that, you will never need this,
hit up all your friends and tell them to repeat this,
hi, your on the air, now what you want to hear?
well we ain't got the truth, but how about a remix,
different is never good, good is only what we pick,
you ain't got a hit, unless it sounds like these did,
not too smart you will be a superstar,
and if you dumb or something maybe you could be number one

He also talks about how you don't hear independent artists on the reading speaking the truth and you should as a music listener look to find out what's not getting radio play because those are the good songs/artists which most of here at MB already know.

"Break The Chain"

I feel like this song has several different meanings but I think he's talking about breaking the chain of the environment/circumstances that you live in. For instance he says a line about how are we supposed to grow up to be a father figure when we didn't have one? Breaking the chain means the cycle of their life that they are living. I also looked it as in breaking the chain of monotony of everyday living. The whole rat race grinding of a 9 to 5 and doing some stupid crap job that you hate just to survive. He also talks about how you should break the chains that are in your own mind. Free your mind basically start thinking outside of the box and the ways you are used to. This is my favorite track off the whole album because I can really relate to it. I feel like I've already broken free from my chain but the whole/society as a whole hasn't. At times I feel like I'm caught up in the Matrix and they don't see the bigger picture like I do. I love this song. I felt like he jumped inside of my head and put my thoughts into a song because I have been feeling this way for the past two months.

I waited all the night to play
I still can't find a way
But if I work it one more day
I might just break the Chain
I might just break the Chain
I might just break the Chain

Freedom, we can use some of that especially where we from
Where we grew up like a green thumb
Its like a criminal is the only thing you can become
Look at what I became
Something like a phenom, nothin but a g thang
Things I've seen when I'm looking out of these frames
Pictures I painted on the walls where we hang
From the trees we hung
Strange fruit man look at how we swung
How the hell you gonna tell us something
We ain't have a father
How to try to grow up and be one

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

djchameleon

I figured I would break this into two posts because it's getting super long. I should have just written this up as a review and posted the link so you can read it but w/e.

"All Black Everything" I'm sure you have heard it by now but for those who haven't. He creates a fantasy/scenario where he has a dream and everything that is negative about the world today is the opposite. He pretty much has like a Bizarro type world going on. He also says in the song that it's nice to think about our history this way but we shouldn't get too hung up on it because you can't do anything about the past but you can DO something about the present/future.

Second favorite track on the album.

"Never Forget You"
I really love this track with John Legend. He basically talks about going back to your beginnings/hometown. Remember all of the things from your past and have no regrets. Remember the good and the bad because they made you who you are today pretty much. Which is something that I always say "I don't have any regrets because I couldn't have changed who I was at that moment in time and it has made me the person that I am today" I swear some of these tracks feels like he was inside of my head and stole my fucking ideas/thoughts.

"I'm Beaming"

Today, nobody cares
But tomorrow they will, they will
Today, nobody cares
But, oh, tomorrow they will, they will

They said my future was dark
You see me now?
Just look around
I’m beamin’

(We are) They used to talk
When I wasn’t around (Lasers)
You see me now (We’re not)
(Losers) I’m beamin’

I get my energy from my inner G
I be in outer space, but I got inner peace
So tell my enemies that they can’t injure me
I know that irritates, you have my sympathies
Well, you should protest, yeah, you should picket me
I’m on a losing strike, I’m on a winning streak
I’m out in left field, I’m speaking mentally
But that’s a better places than where the benches be

When I first heard this song as a single last year. I didn't really like it but then again I didn't pay attention to the lyrics. I really like it now though. especially the bolded part of those lyrics. I have been listening to a lot of songs lately that give off positive vibes and say pretty much don't worry about your enemies/haters. This is another song to add to my play list of songs that I call "Hater's Kryptonite"

He ends the album on "Shining Down" which is a perfect closer imo.

look up in the sky
look up in the sky

you thought I was down
you thought I was gone
that I went around
thought I left you alone

but look up in the sky
just look up in the sky
see that I'm everywhere
shining down on you

no, i ain't the nigga trying to get a liquor line
when i be scripting lines, want this petition signed
it says i'm sick of dying, sick of this prison time
i really love my people i'm sick of pimping mine

Since this single has been out awhile I'm not going to go into every detail of it but just the chorus and this one verse.
The chorus touches on him being away for so long and being hung up by Atlantic records again.

I like how he wants to enlighten black people because he's sick of seeing them die at a young age over bull**** and going into the prison system like it's something that we as black people should think is normal.

If you can't see how awesome this album is then there is no hope for you and I don't even know if you are truly a Lupe Fiasco fan.

You are entitled to your opinions though and if you take anything away from these posts

Love Always Shines Everytime Remember to Smile.
L.A.S.E.R.S.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.