Article 12/26/07 - Lupe Fiasco Confronts Game Violence In Song

Queensbridge · 12-26-2007, 08:34 PM

Atlantic Records hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco, a self-professed "gamer," attacks the problem of game violence in his new track "Little Weapon."

The track sees Fiasco (nom de reality Wasalu Muhammad Jaco) decrying gaming violence, school shootings and child soldiers as the result of kids transferring in-game violence to reality ... or not.

Throughout the song he gives examples of juvenile violence around the world then ties it all together at the end with a metaphor about gaming violence, but honestly his lyrical structure is so convoluted that while we're sure he believes himself to be making a concise (and theoretically ironic) point about the dangers of popular media, a quick deconstruction of the song leads one to believe it's almost completely devoid of meaning.

For those wondering what exactly is said in the song, you can either catch the video on YouTube, or read this lyrical sample:

Quote:

Imagine if I had the console,
The family of those slayed,
I slain on game consoles,
I aim I hold, right trigger to squeeze,
press up and Y one less nigga breathe,
B for the Bombs press pause for your moms,
Make the room silent, she don't approve of violent games,
She leaves resume activity,
Start and blew hearts, with poor harsh wizardry,
On next part I insert code
To sweeten up the purses of murder work load
I tell him he work for
CIA with A
With operative, I operate this game all day
I hold a controller, connected to the soldier
With weapons on his shoulder he's only seconds older than me
We playful but serious, now keep that on mind
for online experience

Fiasco's track is far from the first instance of hip-hop tackling socio-political issues, but it is the most recent, and almost certainly the least consequential.

Artists like Public Enemy made an entire (and wildly successful) career by confronting ingrained social racism and the ignorance of white America towards the plight of minorities.

Even early-90s gangsta rap -- a genre defined by showy displays of male bravado and the glorification of violence -- promoted a social agenda that found flaw with the treatment of young minorities at the hands of the police and the established government.

By comparison, Fiasco's attempt at political relevance seems both misplaced and almost laughably unimportant.

The message in "Little Weapon" seems like it would only find an appreciative audience in parents with small children or middle-aged politicos; neither of whom are going to be rushing out to buy hip-hop albums, much less taking social cues from them.

source=blog.wired.com

IronCro · 12-26-2007, 08:36 PM

Best album of the year and if you aint feeling it go back to listening to Amusement Park and Follow My Lead

zuluking · 12-26-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronCro

Best album of the year and if you aint feeling it go back to listening to Amusement Park and Follow My Lead

u got a homo dude as u pic, and u expect us to take u serious

Speak · 12-26-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronCro

Best album of the year and if you aint feeling it go back to listening to Amusement Park and Follow My Lead

Lol Damn..

heat27 · 12-26-2007, 08:49 PM

i love that Verse.
lupe did his thing with this album.

Da Real Deal · 12-26-2007, 09:23 PM

That's Bishop G's verse anyways.

A.T.I. · 12-26-2007, 09:46 PM

^indeed, not to mention that the article made it seem that it was meant to be a society-changing musical moment, when in fact it was just a creative concept on an album, by a somewhat-famous rapper

CK9 · 12-26-2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronCro

Best album of the year and if you aint feeling it go back to listening to Amusement Park and Follow My Lead

Real talk, shit is fire.

MC B STREETZ · 12-26-2007, 10:50 PM

song wuz dope

Repndawest · 12-27-2007, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronCro

Best album of the year and if you aint feeling it go back to listening to Amusement Park and Follow My Lead

naw, they should go back 2 crankin' that

The Kid Blaze · 12-27-2007, 03:40 AM

youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu speak the truth^^

The Big Shaniel · 12-27-2007, 08:31 AM

little Kimmy got a gun

RU7L3SS · 12-27-2007, 10:37 AM

good verse even though its not lupes, his album imo is
the shit, he's got crazy metaphor's and actually has something
to say other than how much money and bitches he gets, plus
he switches up his flow throught the cd from fast to slow back
to fast overall a solid album just a lil short of classic

fleonardo · 12-27-2007, 12:50 PM

damn bro that shit is not lupe that does that verse, its one of his weed carriers

Hakaroodi · 12-27-2007, 12:56 PM

thats what i was gonna say Lupe didn't even spit that.. it was a hot record though...

and his album.. it is fire.. but hottest album of the year?! nah don't think so..

BANKS-THE-ILLEST · 12-27-2007, 12:57 PM

some of you need to learn to appreciate good music..leave that snap bubble-gum rap bullshit....lupe is pure poetry and makes you think on a deeper level..need more cats like him to help restore hip hop to its former glory...

PokemonMaster · 12-27-2007, 02:38 PM

video games>>>>>>>>his rap career

G-Unit/DaTest · 12-27-2007, 02:56 PM

If Yall Say The Album Is So Raw Then Go Buy It

I Bought It............

Help Lupe Sales Out

em50achilles · 12-27-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tanaka

u got a homo dude as u pic, and u expect us to take u serious

hahah..co sign...faggot ass nigga huh

KingJon · 12-30-2007, 03:41 AM

lupe is mydude

The Game's Advocate · 12-30-2007, 04:31 AM

Best album of the year for sure. One of the best albums I have ever listened to. Definatly a classic.

YounG AleX · 12-30-2007, 04:39 AM

one of my favourite tracks this year...beat is insane and the verses are very dope

Young Ca$ · 12-30-2007, 07:50 AM

Gr8 album, i copped mine. 144,000k first week.. Almost half of what Food & Liqour did in US.

Bkjj11 · 12-30-2007, 08:32 AM

cool but American Gangster is still the best of 07

12-26-2007, 08:49 PM	#5
heat27 EHNY for life Join Date: May 2006 Location: BRONX,NY Posts: 7,719 Repped: 925 Repped 1,508 Times in 741 Posts Neg Reps: 152 Neg Repped at 154 Times in 120 Posts	i love that Verse. lupe did his thing with this album. __________________

12-26-2007, 09:23 PM	#6
Da Real Deal Most Likely To Succeed Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago Illinois/Jackson,MS Posts: 4,999 Repped: 897 Repped 2,808 Times in 616 Posts Neg Reps: 180 Neg Repped at 150 Times in 102 Posts	That's Bishop G's verse anyways. __________________

12-26-2007, 09:46 PM	#7
A.T.I. Agitating the Ignorant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 7,606 Repped: 1,379 Repped 2,050 Times in 720 Posts Neg Reps: 156 Neg Repped at 163 Times in 130 Posts	^indeed, not to mention that the article made it seem that it was meant to be a society-changing musical moment, when in fact it was just a creative concept on an album, by a somewhat-famous rapper __________________ “At a snail's pace, I won this race that y'all trail"

12-26-2007, 10:50 PM	#9
MC B STREETZ YAYO'S ADVOCATE/HYPE MAN Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: FIND ME IN YA CRIB WIT DA NINA WHERE DA MONEY AT Posts: 18,199 Repped: 3,566 Repped 21,974 Times in 2,200 Posts Neg Reps: 58 Neg Repped at 51 Times in 45 Posts	song wuz dope __________________ "I'M A LOUDMOUTH NIGGA BUT MY RUGER SILENT" -TONY YAYO A.K.A TALK OF NEW YORK "ALL YAYO ENEMYS ARE ALL OF MY ENEMYS" - MC B STREETZ A.K.A YAYO'S NINJA

12-27-2007, 03:40 AM	#11
The Kid Blaze Nike KB / Air-Blaze Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tree City Posts: 7,255 Repped: 68 Repped 151 Times in 54 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu speak the truth^^ __________________

12-26-2007, 08:36 PM	#2
IronCro Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,818 Repped: 1,531 Repped 285 Times in 94 Posts Neg Reps: 21 Neg Repped at 33 Times in 24 Posts	Best album of the year and if you aint feeling it go back to listening to Amusement Park and Follow My Lead

12-27-2007, 08:31 AM	#12
The Big Shaniel Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Brazil Posts: 3,187 Repped: 185 Repped 1,269 Times in 82 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	little Kimmy got a gun

12-27-2007, 10:37 AM	#13
RU7L3SS Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 967 Repped: 549 Repped 17 Times in 6 Posts Neg Reps: 10 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	good verse even though its not lupes, his album imo is the shit, he's got crazy metaphor's and actually has something to say other than how much money and bitches he gets, plus he switches up his flow throught the cd from fast to slow back to fast overall a solid album just a lil short of classic

12-27-2007, 12:50 PM	#14
fleonardo Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Comptown Posts: 75 Repped: 0 Repped 12 Times in 11 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	damn bro that shit is not lupe that does that verse, its one of his weed carriers

12-27-2007, 12:56 PM	#15
Hakaroodi G-UNIT SOLDIER Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 30,524 Repped: 14,432 Repped 952 Times in 224 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 49 Times in 45 Posts	thats what i was gonna say Lupe didn't even spit that.. it was a hot record though... and his album.. it is fire.. but hottest album of the year?! nah don't think so..

12-27-2007, 12:57 PM	#16
BANKS-THE-ILLEST gradey uk boy Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 179 Repped: 35 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	some of you need to learn to appreciate good music..leave that snap bubble-gum rap bullshit....lupe is pure poetry and makes you think on a deeper level..need more cats like him to help restore hip hop to its former glory...

12-27-2007, 02:38 PM	#17
PokemonMaster My Pokemons>>>> Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pallet Town Posts: 484 Repped: 97 Repped 88 Times in 36 Posts Neg Reps: 31 Neg Repped at 15 Times in 13 Posts	video games>>>>>>>>his rap career __________________ CAUGHT ME A GEORGE BUSH!!!!!!! :)

12-27-2007, 02:56 PM	#18
G-Unit/DaTest *Gang Green* Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami 305 Posts: 5,698 Repped: 1,842 Repped 522 Times in 74 Posts Neg Reps: 5 Neg Repped at 5 Times in 5 Posts	If Yall Say The Album Is So Raw Then Go Buy It I Bought It............ Help Lupe Sales Out

12-30-2007, 03:41 AM	#20
KingJon Skate Or Die Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Queens AKA Skateboard city Posts: 346 Repped: 19 Repped 280 Times in 41 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	lupe is mydude

12-30-2007, 04:31 AM	#21
The Game's Advocate The Game's Advocate Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 158 Repped: 15 Repped 13 Times in 7 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Best album of the year for sure. One of the best albums I have ever listened to. Definatly a classic. __________________ Chitown's Finest

12-30-2007, 04:39 AM	#22
YounG AleX AleX iS Like... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Where haven't we been yet? Posts: 3,195 Repped: 892 Repped 5,210 Times in 714 Posts Neg Reps: 66 Neg Repped at 13 Times in 8 Posts	one of my favourite tracks this year...beat is insane and the verses are very dope __________________ I learned that everybody is not your friend. You have to watch who you associate with and surround yourself with positive things and people who want to do something positive.- Gucci!

12-30-2007, 07:50 AM	#23
Young Ca$ BUBBLEGUM-RAP HATER Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Suffertown Posts: 169 Repped: 8 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gr8 album, i copped mine. 144,000k first week.. Almost half of what Food & Liqour did in US. __________________ 2PAC,LUPE FIASCO,THE GAME,STYLES P,NAS,JOE BUDDEN,LLOYD BANK$ & YOUNG BUCK.. SUPPORT REAL HIP-HOP.

12-30-2007, 08:32 AM	#24
Bkjj11 Cuz u copied my trend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Playboy Mansion Posts: 4,268 Repped: 219 Repped 6,920 Times in 628 Posts Neg Reps: 56 Neg Repped at 97 Times in 62 Posts	cool but American Gangster is still the best of 07 __________________

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