Lupe Fiasco Keeps Things In-House, Reflects On Success
Published: Monday - April 14, 2008
Words by Cyrus Langhorne
Lupe Fiasco (Photo: Getty Images)
With his sophomore album, The Cool, in stores now, Lupe Fiasco continues the promotion blitz to keep sales going. Although he has major label backing and national exposure, the Chi-Town rapper explains why creating music in-house is the way to go.
His latest single is a popular track called "Paris, Tokyo" and yes, that was done in-house, as he explains via a recent interview with Contact Music.
"Matthew Santos, who sings the hook off of 'Superstar,' is 1st & 15th (Lupe's label). Soundtrakk is 1st & 15th. 'Paris, Tokyo' [is] Soundtrakk, 1st & 15th. 'Hip-Hop Saved My Life' -- is Sountrakk. 'Dumb It Down' -- was Soundtrakk. So it was very important to me to make sure my people get the looks, they get their first looks," the rapper explained. "The stronger that I make them, in their own right, the more respect they get in their own right. It means it makes my job easier.
"Now Soundtrakk is equated to those other guys, those producers, because he has Top 10 records and Grammys, and Grammy nominations. [It's to] push the company forward. For me, it's company first, Lupe second. Make Lupe do whatever he has to do to make the company look good. [1st & 15th] is what's gonna, hopefully, make the company a dynasty -- an empire," Lupe continued regarding his label.
1st & 15th is record label founded by Lupe Fiasco and partner Charles "Chilly" Patton around 2002. After a long road, they inked a deal with Atlantic Records, released Lupe's debut, Food & Liquor, and now the rest is history.
As far as the inspiration behind the "Paris, Tokyo" track -- well, it's his friends, family and girlfriend, which he explains lets them know their in his thoughts while he's away from home.
"It was the end product of all that touring, all that traveling and going to see the world. The other side of that is the stuff you leave behind -- you leave your loved ones, your family and friends, and your girl," said Lupe. "You always gotta make that song to let her know that you're still thinking about her, and that you're coming home -- wherever I go, you come with me. Whether if it be physically, in spirit, or mentally."
But despite the ability to see the globe, the rapper remembers a time when he was nobody. As the saying goes -- hard work pays off.
"[A] couple of world tours, Grammy nominations, Grammy wins -- a win, and a little bit of everything," he said. "[It took] a lot of work. Grinding from nobody status to number two, and number four on a few other charts -- I was like 'Yeaaah.'"
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