The 10 Best Lupe Fiasco Songs of All-Time
Lupe Fiasco is an American rapper who rose to prominence in the mid-2000s. Some artists release material for a short time before fading out.
However, Fiasco isn’t one of them, as shown by how he has steadily released studio albums over two decades. Regardless, Lupe Fiasco is a Grammy Award winner who has sold more than 2 million records, which is more than enough to make him a well-known name.
Here is our opinion of the ten best Lupe Fiasco songs ever released:
10. “Kick, Push”
“Kick, Push” has the distinction of being Fiasco’s debut single. It did alright, as shown by how it peaked at the number 78 position in the United States and double-digit positions in other countries.
Even so, it wasn’t the song that propelled Fiasco into the spotlight. Still, “Kick, Push” deserves recognition. That is particularly true because it is a surprisingly versatile song that listeners can enjoy in various moods.
Furthermore, “Kick, Push” has a follow-up called “Kick, Push II” on the same release. Something that provides plenty of meat for people who enjoy delving into song meanings.
9. “Adoration of the Magi”
The magi were ancient Iranian priests. However, chances are good that interested individuals will recognize the term because of the three distinguished foreigners who paid homage to baby Jesus in the Christian tradition.
Indeed, that is the reference here because “Adoration of the Magi” is a name that can’t be mistaken for anything else. Furthermore, Fiasco timed its release to coincide with the Epiphany, the Christian celebration meant to commemorate that exact occasion.
The man is famous for his ability to imbue words with extra meaning. “Adoration of the Magi” is an excellent example of that skill.
8. “Ghetto Story (Steady Mobbin’)”
“Ghetto Story (Steady Mobbin’)” is Fiasco’s description of the neighborhood he grew up. It is more-or-less what it sounds like. What makes it interesting is that Fiasco describes the ghetto as a system that perpetuates itself, which makes sense because such neighborhoods are notorious for being caught in the cycle of poverty.
7. “Daydreamin””
Fiasco released “Daydreamin'” as the third single from his debut studio album Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor in 2006. Subsequently, it earned him a Grammy Award, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that it remains one of his best-known songs.
Despite this, Fiasco has revealed that he doesn’t get any revenue from the song, which seems like the kind of situation that would make for mixed emotions. In any case, “Daydreamin'” was a criticism of the then-current state of hip-hop. Some things remain as relevant as ever. Others, less so.
6. “Mazinger”
Japanese mecha media has two broad divisions. One is centered on super robots, which tend to be one-of-a-kind machines that care about realism about as much as superheroes do.
The other is centered on real robots, which tend to be mass-producible machines that put more effort into the pretense of realism. Anyone familiar with super robots will recognize this song’s name because it refers to the first super robot franchise. Further references exist throughout “Mazinger.”
For instance, the idea of the viewpoint character becoming either a God or a Devil comes right from the show, which used it to indicate the terrible power entrusted to its hero.
5. “Dumb It Down”
“Dumb It Down” is the kind of song that would show up on a second studio album rather than a debut studio album. For those unfamiliar, Fiasco has received criticism that his music required too much thought from the listeners, thus reducing its accessibility. Unsurprisingly, “Dumb It Down” is a blunt rebuttal delivered in beautiful form, thus enabling it to earn its position on this list.
4. “Hip-Hop Saved My Life”
“Hip-Hop Saved My Life” was the second single from Fiasco’s second studio album Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool. Its lyrics tell the story of an underground rapper, whose struggles seemed to have resonated with a lot of people because the music video went viral in 2007.
Supposedly, “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” was partly based on the life of Slim Thug, who contributed to “Still Tippin'” in 2004 before releasing Already Platinum in 2005. As such, the song has an extra touch of authenticity that would otherwise be missing.
3. “Little Death”
“Little Death” comes from French. Nowadays, people tend to use it to mean a post-orgasm sensation. However, it is important to note that the phrase is much broader than that.
For example, it can mean any weakening of consciousness. Similarly, it can mean feeling as though a part of the self has died because of something unpleasant. Fiasco’s song is clever because it blends multiple meanings.
2. “Conflict Diamonds”
“Conflict Diamonds” is a song that took clear inspiration from real-world events. Chances are good that interested individuals will think of blood diamonds before anything else.
However, it is important to note that “Conflict Diamonds” extends beyond that. After all, people brutalizing others to benefit themselves is far from a new phenomenon. It isn’t a coincidence that Fiasco mentions Cecil Rhodes and De Beers in the same verse as more recent events.
1. “Little Weapon”
“Little Weapon” is a song focused on children with guns. That is a striking combination, thus enabling the song to hit with greater force than otherwise possible.
Child soldiers are one of the issues brought up in the lyrics. Indeed, the song spends quite a bit of time delving into their mindset, which is as uncomfortable as one might expect. Others range from school shooters to violent video games being played by those too young.
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