Lupe’s Fiasco, by Arthur Tebbel & Chris Toia – Pop Art… and Chris #78

Dear Art & Chris,

I know you guys are big fans of my music (the label has got people everywhere).  I was wondering if you guys got a chance to see my Steppin’ Lasers tour this spring?  It wrapped last month.  It was to promote my new album We Are Lasers. If you missed I announced on my blog that we’ll be adding new tour dates for this year.  How many tickets can I put you down for?

-Lupe Fiasco

Lupe,

Man, fuck you.  The time to tour to support an album is after you release the damn thing.  It’s been two and a half years since your last album.  In that time we’re pretty sure Lil Wayne has released 40 albums.  That doesn’t even count mixtapes, he’s practically on every mixtape.  He once recorded a track for this column and we didn’t even know about it.  People were coming up to us on the streets telling us the Wheezy put them on to our jokes.  You’ve got to do more material man.

This is more frustrating because in this time you’ve announced six albums.  Apparently you’ve recorded some tracks for all six.  What are you doing?  Finish one, any one.  Three of those six albums are comprise your retirement piece.  Perhaps you aren’t ready to think about retiring when you still have three other albums you’re actively making music for.  It’s going to be pretty embarrassing when you release a three part good bye album and then come back within a year but it’s pretty clear you’re working out a lot of creative stuff here.  Just not in any sort of linear path.

Can we talk a little bit about how the music industry is supposed to go?  You go on tour after you release the corresponding album.  At this point you’re going to finally release this record near the end of the year and then go on a tour with a completely different name.  You’re going to squander all this valuable Lasers imagery.  You’re a hell of a rapper but you don’t seem to be much of a marketer.  You can talk about this with Jay-Z.  You can do it at his club, drinking his brand of vodka while he’s dressed in clothes from his clothing label.

You’re a very talented artist.  You make both of our top five active MCs lists.  You did not, however, make MTVs top MCs of 2009 list, a snub that forced you to release a track commenting on that omission.  You were two years removed from an album then, what exactly did you expect.  Talent isn’t enough in this world you have to make sure you’re constantly on everybody’s mind.  Michael Jordan was an amazing basketball player and he proved by going out and playing basketball.  He didn’t make people wait over a year in his prime to see him play… except the time he went and played baseball.  OK bad example.  You’re from Chicago aren’t you?  Is this where you got it from?  This is one instance you don’t want to be like Mike.