This is definitely a major touch point to that conversation. It still blows my mind that that actually happened. It’s an amazing inversion of capitalism.
Usually when rappers go up against label they lose and lose bad, but their have been some that have came out on top.
The Game vs G-unit to me the game won that battle by lyrically burning down g unit.
Bone Thugs vs Ruthless early on in their career they had to endure that rookie contract, tomica wright was in control of everything they did, and she flexed her power. When it was time for Ruthless to re up, Bone gain full leverage, BTNH left drop another hit album on Interscope and they are tighter than ever, more 5 man group shows now than throught out 90s and early 2000s Ruthless basically doesn’t even exist anymore. Horrible move by Tomica Wright
Def true also, sometimes trying to take on a label can destroy your career. Look at Weezy dude at 1 point seem like he was bigger than tupac and biggie, all of sudden issues with cash money, drake passes him up, he can’t drop a album, Drake and Nicki are suppose to be his artist and it’s clear to see he’s not seeing any money from Drake and Nicki, Weezy should be near a billionaire by now off of his own work, Drake and Nicki.
Two different fan bases, lupe fans are more intellectual and smarter we know this lol. But you can’t deny Weezy is at a weird point in his career, he had more juice then anybody ever in hiphop at one point and then all of a sudden everything is fading. I’m not a Weezy fan but I do find it a little sad that young black rappers such as Weezy can never take advatage of the moment.
To answer your question at the end, I cannot imagine a world without Tetsuo & Youth. Also, Pharoah Height might be his most complex piece of work to date. I don’t understand any of it, but it’s so freaking dope.
Maybe a future topic: the Little Brother saga. How they made two underground classics then broke up.
Pharoah Height was dope but I don’t think it’s nearly as complex as you’re making it sound. It was just lupe spitting some dope bars with an overall theme about pharoahs and royalty IMO. The track sequencing forms a sentence sure, but idk if it goes much deeper than that. Tetsuo and Youth was 10X more layered, that album is a masterpiece with several different narrative threads running thru it
Great idea, Chris. Been thinking quite a bit about LB. The Listening, Chitlin Circuit, The Minstrel Show, then… poof. Phonte is one of the most underrated artists ever.
On the Pharoahs tip, “Valleys” is my ish. I don’t fully understand the project either. Kind of thought that was the point: Mixtape Lu times two…
I really don’t understand Lupe’s creative decisions sometimes. Just after releasing one of the greatest hip hop albums EVER with Tetsuo and Youth, it seemed like he was back on the right track…then he puts out this phone song. It’s not good, I’m just going to say it. He can’t even blame this one on the label either. I’m seriously starting to wonder if he just enjoys trolling his fans lol. Like, he put that track out as a red herring and then DROGAS will just be a continuation of Tetsuo…full of lyrical gems
Tetsuo a career low for sales…damn. That really is a shame….because it is brilliant. FREAKING brilliant. On the low it was the best hip hop album of 2016, (no hate towards kendrick, TPAB was also great, that’s just how I feel)
He said the other version of Tetsuo would’ve been the most star-studded production?? Let me remind y’all of Food n Liquor – production by Kanye, Pharrell, Just Blaze, Needlez, Mike Shinoda, Soundtrakk, and some guy named Shawn Carter.
Thank God for Lupe
lupe is top 5 DOA. this is proof.
This is definitely a major touch point to that conversation. It still blows my mind that that actually happened. It’s an amazing inversion of capitalism.
Lupe is so far from top 5 it’s not even funny. stop that
also worth noting: anonymous’ attack on atlantic happened on the 5 year anniversary of the fiasco friday protest!!!
I would definitely care about Lupe even w the label not pushing his records in 2010. FNL and the The Cool are classics.
Me too.
Lupe for the win! Last of a dying breed.
Best mc to come out in the last 10-15 years but also put out one the worst albums Lasers in the last 10-15 years
Still too intelligent for the current America. We are talkin’ bout a place where Donald Trump might be President…
I never thought about this. He did win the battle in a way. I wish he still got radio spins.
“Lyrics, what i do best”
Evidence: “Mural” track 2 on Tetsuo and Youth
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hmu: twitter/IG :BartenderSay
Usually when rappers go up against label they lose and lose bad, but their have been some that have came out on top.
The Game vs G-unit to me the game won that battle by lyrically burning down g unit.
Bone Thugs vs Ruthless early on in their career they had to endure that rookie contract, tomica wright was in control of everything they did, and she flexed her power. When it was time for Ruthless to re up, Bone gain full leverage, BTNH left drop another hit album on Interscope and they are tighter than ever, more 5 man group shows now than throught out 90s and early 2000s Ruthless basically doesn’t even exist anymore. Horrible move by Tomica Wright
Def true also, sometimes trying to take on a label can destroy your career. Look at Weezy dude at 1 point seem like he was bigger than tupac and biggie, all of sudden issues with cash money, drake passes him up, he can’t drop a album, Drake and Nicki are suppose to be his artist and it’s clear to see he’s not seeing any money from Drake and Nicki, Weezy should be near a billionaire by now off of his own work, Drake and Nicki.
Nobody’s protesting for Weezy to get released. Nobody’s protesting for the carter 5.
Two different fan bases, lupe fans are more intellectual and smarter we know this lol. But you can’t deny Weezy is at a weird point in his career, he had more juice then anybody ever in hiphop at one point and then all of a sudden everything is fading. I’m not a Weezy fan but I do find it a little sad that young black rappers such as Weezy can never take advatage of the moment.
To answer your question at the end, I cannot imagine a world without Tetsuo & Youth. Also, Pharoah Height might be his most complex piece of work to date. I don’t understand any of it, but it’s so freaking dope.
Maybe a future topic: the Little Brother saga. How they made two underground classics then broke up.
Pharoah Height was dope but I don’t think it’s nearly as complex as you’re making it sound. It was just lupe spitting some dope bars with an overall theme about pharoahs and royalty IMO. The track sequencing forms a sentence sure, but idk if it goes much deeper than that. Tetsuo and Youth was 10X more layered, that album is a masterpiece with several different narrative threads running thru it
Great idea, Chris. Been thinking quite a bit about LB. The Listening, Chitlin Circuit, The Minstrel Show, then… poof. Phonte is one of the most underrated artists ever.
On the Pharoahs tip, “Valleys” is my ish. I don’t fully understand the project either. Kind of thought that was the point: Mixtape Lu times two…
I really don’t understand Lupe’s creative decisions sometimes. Just after releasing one of the greatest hip hop albums EVER with Tetsuo and Youth, it seemed like he was back on the right track…then he puts out this phone song. It’s not good, I’m just going to say it. He can’t even blame this one on the label either. I’m seriously starting to wonder if he just enjoys trolling his fans lol. Like, he put that track out as a red herring and then DROGAS will just be a continuation of Tetsuo…full of lyrical gems
Tetsuo a career low for sales…damn. That really is a shame….because it is brilliant. FREAKING brilliant. On the low it was the best hip hop album of 2016, (no hate towards kendrick, TPAB was also great, that’s just how I feel)
I agree 100%. It’s a masterpiece and one of the only albums I’ve ever bought that works equally as well in reverse.
Wow 42000 and i was one of them.
Me too.
Had no idea. Great piece. Well done.
He said the other version of Tetsuo would’ve been the most star-studded production?? Let me remind y’all of Food n Liquor – production by Kanye, Pharrell, Just Blaze, Needlez, Mike Shinoda, Soundtrakk, and some guy named Shawn Carter.