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

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt

Experience Nirvana with Sub Pop Founder Bruce PavittSong Writing

The man who ran Nirvana's first label gets beyond the sensationalism (drugs, Courtney) to discuss their musical and cultural triumphs in the years before Nevermind.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.