Lupe Fiasco has been all about speaking his mind lately. He last made headlines for getting kicked off stage an an Obama inauguration party. His latest rant came on Twitter, speaking about violence, art and media.
Back in September, Gerald Lowry wrote a Fan File for TSL on Lupe, saying, in addition to other things, that Lupe needed to get off his soapbox.
Somewhere between The Cool and Lasers, the dope emcee was lost and every issue posed as an opportunity for Lupe to climb onto his soapbox. Soapboxes aren’t new in hip-hop (see Public Enemy, Dead Prez, etc.) and, depending who you ask, they’re always needed in judicious doses, given the current state of affairs musically and socially. The differentiating factor here is that Chuck D, Stic.man, M-1, KRS and the like have never compromised the sonic dopeness of their products. They still recognized that they were actually making music, not just preaching to an audience.
This came through Twitter, but still dilutes Lupe's overall effectiveness. Here's what he had to say.
Q: Does violence in music promote/cause/support/influence violence in the world and society? A: Of course it does.@pro_orangetree
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
Violent music (and all violent media) effectively says its "ok" to be violent. It provides positive reinforcement for negative actions.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
If you rap and make violent music then own up to it. Stop hiding behind "art imitating life" as a way to evade the guilt.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
"How the hell you gonna tell this man not 2 be violent?, Cuz he dont need to go the same route that I did"-Eminem & Dr. Dre "Choices"
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
correct title of the song aside, U know what I meant!The issue stands that violent music puts violence into this world one way or another.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
It creates the atmosphere that violence is an acceptable means to an end. Agree or disagree doesnt really matter at this point honestly.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
But to not even acknowledge the possibility that violent music has even the most minute effect on violence in the world is frankly bullshit.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
Ive made violent music. Done violent things. Most my friends are violent. Lived in violent neighbors. Seen violence first hand.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
A certain point you start to get tired of it. You ask why? why is it like this? what is causing this? why is this ok to live like this?
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
Then you turn on the news and see that a 12 month old got shot in the face by two teenagers in Georgia for no reason at all.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
Then you hear a song on the radio talking about "shooting everyone in sight"…bad times man…fuck…
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
you may not give two shits about the next man and his troubles and thats cool with me…live you life…but I do and most people I know do
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
but dont sit there and act like high ass inner city murder rates are just falling from the sky for absolutely no reason…
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
everything plays a part…EVERYTHING. Take responsibility for the part you play. motherfuckers can at least start there.
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
yeah I got issues. My hood aint been safe in 25 years! At the point now u can die for nothing. just random death and disregard. tired of it
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
I know you don't hear me. I guess its the LAST desperate act of a desperate man in desperate times. On one…peace…
— Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco) March 24, 2013
(h/t: XXL)
