All I want is dope music. I don’t care how it comes to be (in most cases). Whether it’s a diss track, an instrumental track, an acapella track, or a remix, just make it good.
This is why I thought it was an incredible idea for Lupe Fiasco to rap over instrumentation from Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun, specifically the track, “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time.”
Lupe isn’t your typical, everyday, run-of-the-mill MC. He’s one of the most talented in the 21st Century. His lyrical ability is to be respected by everyone who claims they enjoy hip-hop. No, he does not enjoy the same level of fame and notoriety as he did when he released, Food & Liquor and The Cool, but his skill has not taken a step down at all.
I would argue that it’s improved. Since the release of his 2015 album, Tetsuo & Youth, the Chicago artist has been on an incredible run, putting out nothing but quality. Lupe has not fallen off. Plus, MCs remixing another artist’s song is a part of hip-hop. It’s nothing out of the ordinary and in fact, I would say it’s been encouraged by other rappers.
Just look at Lil Wayne. He became a legend by remixing the songs of others and making the track even better than it was. Lupe didn’t make that level of impact, but it’s fun that he took a chance on it.
But in the eyes of Joe Budden, it was stupid. On a recent episode of his podcast, he said, “Hey Lupe, man, stop. Stop it. He rapping over them damn flutes. I cut that shit right off.”
He later continued, “Oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Yo dawg, it’s women listening… Why would he do that to them? I can’t say nothing ’cause he gonna diss me… That was some bullshit. That was some clout chasing.”
I don’t care if Budden likes it or not, it’s his opinion. But clout chasing? Nah. Doesn’t sound like something Lupe would do. The one time he tried to do something to chase clout, it didn’t work out for him (Lasers). Everything he’s done for the past eight years has been to get away from the spotlight. Tetsuo & Youth was literally the last project he released on a major label.
So I don’t care if people don’t like what he did to the song, but I think it’s unfair for Budden to criticize him for experimenting on it.