Mural

Album: Tetsuo and Youth (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Over a The Buchanans-produced instrumental, Lupe Fiasco spits heavy rhymes of social commentary for nine minutes barely pausing. Tetsuo & Youth found the Chicago rapper focusing on lyrics, with no rules. "It's my least flawed album out of everything I've done," Lupe explained during an interview with DJ Skee. "I'm at the state in my career when I'm not going to get played on the radio - I really gotta go out of the box and do some crazy collaboration to get Lupe Fiasco on the radio, so that's not gonna happen. I'm not the beloved MC that people are checking for and standing in line for."

    "I'm not gonna have none of that word of mouth, I'm not gonna have that radio, pop... I'm not 'finna be on TV, I'm not 'finna have any of those looks, so we just finna go hard," he added, confidently. "I'll just do what I do best, which is lyrics: Lyrics, on top of lyrics, on top of lyrics - and it worked."
  • This samples the song "Chanson d'Un Jour d'Hiver" from French jazz funk outfit Cortex's 1975 album Troupeau Bleu.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Graham Parker

Graham ParkerSongwriter Interviews

When Judd Apatow needed under-appreciated rockers for his Knocked Up sequel, he immediately thought of Parker, who just happened to be getting his band The Rumour back together.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.