Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)

Album: Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album (2012)
Charted: 76
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lupe Fiasco's first single off his fourth studio album, Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album, finds him spitting rhymes about aspects of modern American life he doesn't like such as "Suicide bombers and prosperity gospels, emaciated models, with cocaine and blood pouring out their nostrils" as well as socio-political problems in Ghana and the invasion of Iraq. Fiasco debuted the song on May 21, 2012.
  • The Simonsayz & B-Sidet, produced track borrows from Pete Rock and CL Smooth's 1992 song "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)." After its release, Rock tweeted his unhappiness at his original song being used. "I'm not flattered @ all. Dat s--t is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his fu--in self. Smh That record is dear to me," he complained. Rock's song was written for his friend Troy Dixon, who died in 1990 after a performance with Heavy D. In another tweet, Rock added, "No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone."

    The section sampled in Fiasco's song has a long history: it is the saxophone part from "T.R.O.Y.", which was itself a sample from a 1967 recording by Tom Scott and The California Dreamers called "Today," which was a cover of a Jefferson Airplane song from earlier that year.

    Upset at the criticism from Rock, Fiasco told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway that he didn't actually sample "Reminisce," but instead crafted his track from the original source, Tom Scott's "Today."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Artis the Spoonman

Artis the SpoonmanSong Writing

Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?