Offset recently sat down for an interview with Ebro Darden for Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning. During their conversation, the Migos rap star proclaimed “older artists should kiss Migos’ feet” for propelling Hip Hop to forefront.
Lupe Fiasco evidently took issue with his sentiments. Over the weekend, the Food & Liquor mastermind scolded Offset for using the term “kissing feet.” He pointed out it isn’t a symbol of admiration or respect, it’s more like a subservient gesture intended to humiliate the delivering party.
In the lengthy Instagram post, he also called for unity in Hip Hop.
“Firstly let me say that I’m a huge fan of the Migos (specifically Emitt Smith & Fight Night. Also when I go to the club I only really get up and dance dance my little dance to Migos. True story),” Lupe begins. “Secondly let me say that the only visceral problem with brother offsets statement is the use of the cliche ‘kissing feet.’
“That’s not a sign of respect that’s an act of subjugation of something lower to something higher and as Busta Rhymes told me when it comes to rap there are no classes, or superiors vs inferiors. We are all a team. Each with individual attributes that add their special skill set and energy to the whole.”
Lupe continued by reminding Offset current analytics don’t erase the groundwork laid down by Hip Hop’s pioneers. He also pointed out Hip Hop is a culture and not just about selling albums.
“The metrics of industry don’t successfully define the essence of hiphop nor do they replace its legacy or the efforts of its pioneers who achieved great things with little to nothing in terms of materials (i.e. the internet and massive marketing budgets),” he writes. “From that poverty of capital created a Culture, not a business, a legitimate Culture and were actively combatted by opposing forces from all walks of life.
“Streaming and selling records is only a part of the project that is hip hop. It’s a great feeling and milestone to sell a million records and be celebrated for that achievement. But it is just as great to be an amazing lyricist respected by thousands or just 1 for your abilities to craft amazing pieces of communication that can operate to influence society as a whole not just exclusively on a dance floor.”
Finally, Lupe wrapped up his diatribe by defining what a “true rapper” is to him.
“Hip hop got its RESPECT from rappers who spoke truth to power and struck fear in the comfort zones of oppression and inspired folks to take a look at their surroundings, analyze and OVERCOME,” he concluded. “Hip Hop isn’t respected because of how many records it has sold or how many dances it has created UNLESS WE TALM BOUT BREAKDANCING. Hip Hop is respected because it’s kisses nobodies feet. And never will.
“Our feet don’t belong on the mouths of our pioneers they belong on their shoulders. The true rapper is the one who continues to do it when it’s no money, no fame, no cars, no jewelry…just the love of the craft that keeps them on that grind. That’s the bar. Everything else other than that is just filler and cap.”
Watch Offset’s full interview below.
Real Talk
Lupe is on point and he always rocks when he show up at the Blue Note! I like the beats of the Migos backgrounds and such, but I from the era of the beggings of Rap! Yo, we was jamming outside in the parks within the hood and stuff with speakers and turntables hooked up to the light pole for juice. That was when a lot folks claimed there was not talent to rapping and then some academia folks stated to rap and rhyme and be a lyricist or lyrical was a demonstration of genius! So my hats to those who paved the way and those who reaping the rewards from those who came first, but Power to All the People! Why just bc White Folk jump on something that mean we got to diss our brethren. It is like some of us forget how we fell into the origination of Oppression from the side of the colonizer and seem we want to mimick his ways. Seems like the oldest DNA of all mankind, the African, well we fail to learn from our mistakes all the way way back, those times we participated in our own slave trade, where did it get us then and where will it get us now! We need to develop humility and humble ourselves, we living in the belly of the beast needing to survive but some still going at the crabs in the barell syndrome having to kiss the feet forbthose who paved the way, we seem to lack an understanding of how we got any freedoms to began wit in th shtty colonial system. It was because we respected one another and stood for something bigger than ourselves, somebody need to create a rap on how we giving all the money right back to the man when our own go without decent affordable housing or poor children of color parents cannot even afford a new pair of eyeglasses for their child! Kissing feet what that connect to real suffering of your own people and people rewarding themselves wit ten new cars a year and such, that is way whack! Give the young people some new age shyt for real vs preaching for the man that holding us all down, striving for all that materialism, dissing your mother, sister and wife, promoting gang life and all that. That may be real but it ain’t the only reality, strive for a real Wakunda!
Real talk
Never change, Lu. Never change.
Truth spoken. Too bad that hip hop is often young vs. old at times instead of everyone being happy for the next man’s success, whether they like them or not. I personally think Migos suck, but I respect the grind and the success they have had.
“Our feet don’t belong in the mouths of our pioneers they belong on their shoulders.“
Good statement.
I just became a Lupe fan
U can feel d knowledge in d mind of the person behind those words. Respect school em youngins
The nerve off this clown…This is exactly why I can’t stand today’s hip-hop. No creativity, originality, nor real music! Just a bunch of followers whose careers will have no real true longevity yrs. from now. The pioneers should b kissing your feet??? GTFOH, Offset, you & the Migos wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t 4 those same pioneers that you’re disrespecting, so who should really b kissing whose feet @ the end of the day. Better yet, kneel down & kiss the mf’n ring like Nas & Masta Killa both said!
Pete Rock also had some words for offset, they werent quite as nice as Lu’s
Pete rock?!? Who is that scrub Lmaoo he just as irrelevant as lupe haha migos don’t need nobodies approval for nothing. How many top hits Pete rock have?!? That’s what I thought. Now take your old ass to bed grandpa
Migos should be thanking the people that came before them. When are some of these hip hop artists going to grow up. So much immaturity in the culture . Most of these clowns are not role models to look up to.
I wished Lupe would’ve found a way to put what he said on a track. I know what he said is really not a diss but it would’ve been a hell of a rebuttal (‘come back’ for you youngsters lacking vocabulary) to ole buddy’s statement. Much respect Lupe, thank you.
Everyone always want to talk about culture this and culture that. But who buys or pays for streaming services the most? White people. And what people are behind most of new artist’s projects? White people. Who pay these rappers their royalties? White people. So in a way white people are part of the culture too whether you like it or not. The same people you say can’t say the N word but that’s your main audience. Green Book won awards for best pic but there were 6 white people as writers and only one black person. Hip hop is #1 because white people have embraced it and even copied it. Keep thinking the culture is something we as minorities created when in reality it’s what the system has set for us. Just be humble and thank your lucky stars you’re not starving or poor. Nobody needs to kiss anyone’s feet. ??♂️
Truth… but too many dumbasses to recognize…
Not even hating when I say that Offset’s album was terrible and so were the other 2 Migos individual albums. I’m not gonna pretend the Migos haven’t had any influence on hip hop and that they’re completely without talent, but Lupe can outrap the 3 of em on any given day of the year.
TO THOSE COMMENTING “OLD” U CAN ONLY WISH SOMEONE WILL UTTER THIS ABOUT YOU ONE DAY. THAT IS ALL. (Looks at comments again, smirks & in Melvin from Baby Boy voice: Youngsters)
Cmon lupe you know migos ain’t gonna be able to understand that post…
Lupe isn’t for everybody but he’s in my Top 10. He also speaking FACTS right now
IF YOU GO LISTEN TO OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP YOU’D REALIZE RAPPERS WERE ALWAYS ARROGANT, BRASH, WITH HYPER INFLATED EGOS. THE LITERAL BASIS OF RAP IS PROCLAIMING TO BE THE BEST PERIOD, TALENTED OR NOT. LUPE JUST WANTS ATTENTION FROM SOMEONE ELSE’S NAME AGAIN.
Check your “fire” total, nobody here is fucking with what you said. You welf-flamed, which is super sad
I dont care bout who fucks with me or not dicksucker, if u do then that’s sadder
Much respect to Lupe. I have favorite artist in all stages of Hip-hop evolution an/or devolution. If you reading this check out the duo The Underachievers these young guys have the spirit of the old school with fire of the new.
I like Lupe but his response was not what I wanted to hear. This is hip-hop. Bust out with a full fledged mixtape dissing migos and set the track on fire. Could care less about subjugation and blah blah blah.
We shouldn’t even give them attention in 10 years new trendy rapper will replace Migos
Won’t take 10 years lol.
migos are like crog shoes cause they are wack as fuck but they sell
Bizzy bone enigma dropoing march 9
Lets be honest…Migos will not be remembered as any type of “trendsetters” in hiphop, they’re literally just the most popular group in a shitty time for hiphop…a time that will be mostly forgotten at best or the actual downfall of hiphop at worst. Bottom line…Migos are just feeling themselves too hard and will probably be remembered for their nonsense comments more than their music. They’re popular in an era where the top dog is basically a male version of Aaliyah…nuff said
Brah the disrespect towards Aaliyah is blasphemous! Take it back man.
Why hip hop cant have old and young heads bout contributing to the culture like other music genre?
Success and fame have a short shelf live in hip hop more than any other genre of music seems to me. The most iconic, top selling, most respected, music Hall of fame inducted rappers or groups, will probably never get the recognition they want, maybe deserve. Hip hop and rap aren’t a flash in the pan, but most rappers are.
stupid kid when u grow up u will understand !!
FUCK OFFset
Lupe is a great rapper without any good albums.
You need to go kiss migos feet then I guess…
No good albums , huh ? I bag to differ and so millions of others .. Lupe is a multi platinum artist ..
What classics do Migos really have? They got a big moment, spearheaded by a shoutout at the Golden Globes, which was not off merit alone. Two of the Three released double-wooden albums that caused little to no buzz. They might have an EP worth of solid records. The last project they released was a data dump to capitalise off streaming analytics, not quality. Most artists are humble due to the fact they might only get one or two conversation moments….Migos do not set the bar for anything….FACTS!