How Lupe Fiasco's "Samurai" Album Connects To Amy Winehouse
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- Опубліковано 6 вер 2024
- On June 28, Lupe Fiasco dropped his "Samurai" album and it connects to the late Amy Winehouse in a very creative way. Let's discuss.
#lupefiasco #amywinehouse #samurai
My 2020 Lupe Fiasco Interview: • Lupe Fiasco Talks Geni...
Lupe Talks "Samurai" With BET: www.bet.com/ar...
![@LupeFiasco breaks down over the 'ghosts' from his block. [RapFix 2012]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8CFvg0DPvrU/mqdefault.jpg)
I’ll just say this. I respect an artist who can do what most artists do, but also what most artists can’t do. Lupe is skilled and multi-dimensional enough to do the basic 1-2, but also got moves that most can’t even copy.
Yeah!! He’s a 1 of 1
After Kendrick won the beef, everyone proclaimed that lyrical Hip Hop was back. And then I proceeded to watch ABSOLUTELY NONE of the popular, mainstream reaction channels react to any of Lupe's releases.
So glad you're covering it.
Hopefully with the album out, that'll change.
Not sure why others do what they do but I’m glad you’re here with us
That's just industry favoritism for kendrick. The industry & fans could careless about lyricism. They pick & choose who they want to celebrate
Exactly! isn't being a rapper all about lyricism? Cause all we have had in the past few years from most of the big rappers in hip hop is drake clones and a few actual lyicists. There are so many great MCs if you scratch the surface but most don't and rely on what's popular.
What an album lupe is shows a lot of the big names up imo. We have the Vince Staples so far, Denzel, and hopefully dots albums & a few more to come but this is my aoty so far
@RobMarkman basically, they just cover the artists they know will get them loads of clicks imo. I bet most didn't even like hip hop when Lupe was a megastar and everywhere.
Still no excuse as its not like he hasn't made some classic albums and is in rap history.
I AM SO GLAD SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS ALBUM!!!
More than someone. We!! The comment section counts too
Lupe's in my top 5! His discography is full of classics. Tetsuo & Youth & DROGAS WAVE are masterpieces!!
Just copped a signed copy of Drogas Wave. Super slept on.
@@bolder2009 🔥🔥 I still hold the belief that the album needs it's own graphic novel or something, if nothing else at least WAV FILES
@@isaibnwali I thought he was working on a novel based or Wave Files. I saw that somewhere but I guess it was just fan speculation.
@@bolder2009 he talked about it on twitter. even has pics of some drafts. looked pretty cool
@@bolder2009 I hadn't heard, but that would be dope!!!
Whole album “Samurai” is a story of Amy Winehouse re imagined from Lupe’s mind as a character (Samurai, Battle rapper). To me, it feels like a mini version of The Cool type of album because of the storytelling on Samurai album focusing on one person (Amy). It’s an Amazing album.
👍
Lupe Fiasco is The Greatest lyricist of all time! BARS, Concepts, and Technical skills.
I’m not mad at that
Nothing but the truth 🤝🏾 Lu is the GOAT
He’s good, but cmon
Liar
Agreed!
Appreciate you covering this one. Album is incredible. So much so that I wish it could be bigger. I'd love to see people pouring over this like they did Euphoria (also incredible).
I just don't think Lupe himself is all that interested in acclaim at scale like that. Can't say I blame him considering how his career played out and all the friction with the label. All that said and understood though, it's a shame this gonna be slept on more than likely.
It’ll connect with who it’s supposed to connect with that’s for sure.
I think he is interested in the acclaim. He’s historically been salty he doesn’t have it. He’s shown himself to be a very jealous person. It’s harder to take his lyrics seriously when he presents a level of enlightenment, but lives his life as a petty, immature child.
@@HappyAccidentVideos this does not describe Lupe Fiasco. What lol?
He actually did an interview recently where he said Samarui is a portrait of Amy Winehouse, and that he has other songs and EPs he's made as "portraits" that no one will ever hear.
He's been rich enough and acclaimed enough. He's only rapping for the art at this point, and sharing his art with whoever cared to check it out
@@HappyAccidentVideos I can see how you see that. But more of what I see are reactions of him being in a negative light because they are responses. Ppl who feel like they ( kenny/lupe) are in the same space bring it up for no reason. PPL talk crazy and lupe historically responds crazy back.
Lupe made me fall in love with hip hop at 16 years old. One of my life goals is to meet him and maybe get a picture or autograph.
good luck homie
“and I’m like … da fuq??” 💀 I felt that 😅 as a long time Lupe fan, I think most people would agree that it has been difficult to connect with most of his projects post The Cool except for Tetsuo & Youth. I think he’s aware of that general opinion as Drill Music and Samurai both strike a nice balance of high concept and mass appeal.
That’s real!!!
Drogas Wave is amazing
Adoration of the magi comes to mind🤔
The documentary bummed me out so much I only saw it twice. R.I.P. Amy Winehouse
❤️
Lupe is incredible. One of the few alien level lyricist that makes great albums
Facts
always great to see some love for Lupe
O.G Lupe Stan here. I enjoy these so much because you put me on to some intel i had no clue about. I’ll continue to tap in because your work never disappoints. P.S. “Number 1 Headband” is my fav song off the album. Lu went insane 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.
I’m glad i could help give some insight
GOAT Lyricist List
1. Lupe Fiasco
2. Andre 3K
3. Eminem
4. Kendrick Lamar
5. MF DOOM
All top tier
I would only add a little more space and then everyone else:
1. Lupe Fiasco
2.
this was a highly anticipated record of this year for me, as a massive fan of Amy, Lupe and of her love for hip hop made this record a fantastic listen
You knew of the concept before the album dropped right?
@@RobMarkman yeah i did
@@RobMarkman i heard the many references in the lead single (samurai) and decided to see if it was inspired by her and turns out it was
Album is dope. Feels like some Nujabes beats to me. Works well with how Lupe rhymes.
I feel like Lupe took a few shots at Kendrick on No. 1 Headband - the Pluto bar, the Gemini bar, the part about “these walls.” But I might be reaching. Can never tell with how many layers Lupe puts on his bars. But he’s def wanted the smoke for a while.
You just made me relisten. The “these walls” bar?! 🤔 i didn’t think so at first but ive seen stranger things happen
@@RobMarkman I want that battle bad, man 😂 the karate bar and the Pluto (Future?) bar really make me think there’s a chance, though.
Much respect for the shoutout & for coming through. 253 love!
Love!!!
Lupe is def. in my top 5, he is the complete package. I've liked almost every project. The only one I had a hard time absorbing was Drill Music in Zion but to stay on point, Samurai production coincidentally has undertones of Samurai Champloo but the depth of lyricism that only Lupe can present. It's such a smooth album sonically. There's a video out there of a visual representation of how many rhyme schemes he runs at the same time for Cake and it's nuts.
For this to be the result of an Amy Winehouse concept is a cool tidbit of the projects, but overall I'm just glad Lupe gave us rap excellence with production that sounds good and a flow that is digestible. Often, when we think of lyricism, it comes with that double time flow and such. Appreciate the intial thought!
This is AOTY so far! I had a listen when It was first released but got sidetracked. But when I watched your video about the concept and the sound, i gave it a proper play through again.
I'm from London and hangin out where Amy used to all the time. It got better and better. Then i noticed all the London slang and little English things lupe throws in along with his amazing flow, cadence made me come back for more and more.
I smile every time Lupe goes into London mode and is funny & sick at it .
I'm on about 30 plays of the album so far. I was not expecting this at all. The concept and little nods to jazz too adds more depth.
The fact I think Lupe is one of the best and one of the few proper lyricists about these days. He doesn't rely on auto tune or overproduction. His flow, bars are what he shines on. Like it should be imo. Most of fav rappers have this, but not on the Lupes level.
The concept of it being Amy all from a voicemail about her being a battlerapper samari, the little nods to London, Jazz, his flow, cadence, production is nearly are perfect to me. Gonna take a lot to beat this for it to be my album for 2024. But Denzel and maybe a kdot album may be out...
So thanks for making me give me this another go at it cause it still gets better and better. 8.5/10, would be a 9 if it was longer.
A little new atmosphere for a great moment with with a great brother that breaks it down with an elite level of thought and passion 🙏🏾💯
🫡
@@RobMarkman 🫡
Imma huge Lupe fan but I only heard samurai and cake. The production was phenomenal on those two tracks and Lupe was very harmonic. Hopefully the casual hip hop fans give this a listen
Word
I’ve ran this album back probably ten times since it dropped. Lupe the killaaaaaaa
He’s different
Lupe is one of the top lyricists of this era but even though he defeated Royce Da 5'9, I put Nas, Big Pun, Royce Da 5'9, Eminem, Conway the Machine, Jada, J. Cole, Kendrick, Black Thought, Mac Miller, Prodigy, Rakim, BDK, Kool G. Rap, Scarface, Big L, Cam'ron, Guru and Ab-Soul at or above his level in my opinion. That is not meant to be a shot at him because think of all the MCs that puts him above historically and that list is ever changing. I'm sure I forgot about someone else as well.
aye Rob taking the show on the road! i cant wait to fully peep this album.
About to get into this album...Lupe's writing style is top tier, he always breaks the rules
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Lupe but imma listen to this album I love when artists go fully conceptual
Concept albums need to return
@@skabzemortal agreed
I get exactly what you're saying. Lupe is top 5 for me, and i dont think everything ever connects or comes through entirely. Its like the projects are partly new every listen. Never gets old or stale. Or something... i guess....
Yeah it’s not easy to articulate but i think you and me saying the same thing
This album is really something - from the concept to just the pure rap ability hes definitely in top form. I get that some people hate the notion that you have to do "homework" to understand that stuff but i still think its pretty listenable without the context - but its one of those that if/when you do decide to look deeper its more rewarding, just like the vast majority of lupe's work. this one being pretty concise helps it become a pretty easy listen.
i think homework is weird. But i understand the concept but I agree but the same time I think he's proving he can be for anyone bros topics range from menace to society to Maldelbrot theory.
@@KJango804 yeah i mean i dont really see it as homework, but a lot of being a Lupe fan insists that you dig deeper, but ive always liked that about his music because it recontextualizes as you start to gain a larger understanding of what hes saying. but even if you dont you could always be impressed at the lyricism or the instrumentals, or cadence, etc.
Yeah. Thats a perfect way to put it.
had no idea! gonna give it a listen. love what u do, rob ❤
Ayeeee thank you. I love what i do, so the fact that you love it? Means the world to me
Em is up there, way up there.
Yeah. Em is in that category for sure
It's Lupe .... Mach-Hommy... Yasiin... and Roc Marci. Just different emcees. One of Ones
Great Segment, Lupe is my biggest inspiration.
Sidebar,
At some point Can we Get a 2nd Generation Wu Breakdown? All the members have children that create together. I think that would be a fascinating deep dive, not just for WU fans but also to the masses.
I haven’t really sat with their music to be honest, lemme see if i can get around to checking it out
@@RobMarkman ….. Thank you 🤝🏾
Check out Kxng Crooked and Joell Ortiz's album that just dropped, called Tapestry. Its a really dope album I feel.
Lupe is him period lol I’m sorry I don’t need to say shit else dope album of course there’s no artist lyrically killing every track every album like it’s just not happening
Ok!
yo this entire album should be a classic period .
It’s kinda early to call after just two days of listening for me. We’ll see
@@RobMarkman agree but had it on repeat since out and honestly comparing to tetsuo its a smooth listen and keep on unraveling
I'll never front on Lupe
BRIEFCASEDART HIP HOP DIALOGUE OUT NOW!!!!!! Lyricism
I loved to see this video pop up! Idk why it got me off guard but it was a good surprise! I enjoyed the project so much! Production it beautiful.
I appreciate the not doing a video on the Drake features.
🫡
*UPDATE* I listened to the album twice and honestly maybe I just don’t get it but I didn’t really get any Amy Winehouse from this album but damn can this man spit!
Watching her documentary will connect the dots for you.
love this content very insightful
Crook and Joell put out the last project as a duo this week as well. Would be dope to hear your thoughts on that too! 💯
Haven’t heard it yet
that's hard
How did you feel about the album on the re-listen when you understood the concept?
I started catching things. Like the bar about her big eyes. And the bar hook on samurai made sense. It was dope not knowing. And then listening after and finding things
U got a fav off the album @Robmarkman? Mine is Mumble Rap. That joint so groovy & the way he put it together is dope af to me.
Cake is a joint you have to play like 10 times.
I gotta spin it some more
That's fire
i respect your diplomacy. make the drake video please.
What’s there to say really?
@@RobMarkman They're wack or mid or formulaic or good. Document the comeback attempt, good or bad. Report the streaming numbers now and after the holiday weekend. In a week we should know if the song(s) work. Etc etc.
Lupe been dope...just not plugged into the machine for whatever reasons...Winehouse has joints with Ghostface + Nas...so, not too much of a stretch in my view. I gotta vet this new joint tho.
ROB where is your breakdown of Joell Ortiz and Crooked I's album that dropped? If you not giving their music light who else gonna do it? You ain't cover none of their projects like you supposed to
I haven’t? No? I’ve given light to so many artists at all of the different places that i work
ua-cam.com/video/ZYcepdRatvY/v-deo.htmlsi=zT2Gr8ksbSI6Bqhg
@@RobMarkman bruh that was 2020 around their 1st project, I'm happy you showed love then. But they on their 6th and sadly final project cause yall ain't support. They really the only rappers that you wanna here rap dropping consistently and actually picking good beats WITH DRUMS
@@tatertots0046hey don’t put that on me lol…
I first interviewed Joel in 2005. Interviewed em both a number of times with Slaughterhouse… Joell and Crook are incredible. But geeez don’t blame me for not supporting. I’ve supported through the years.
@@RobMarkman it's on all the media and hip hop community that's proclaims to care about "real hip hop" cause almost none of yall covered these 6 projects filled with CLASSIC material. It's not too late I would love for you to review Tapestry(dropped 2 days ago) then reach out to Joell & Crook and do a proper appreciation to thei run together. 🙏🏽
Lupe is not like us. Hes a Drake fan🤣
Lupe fiasco would be DESTROYED if he ever dissed Kendrick. It’s not even close
Ironic name there
Lupe is so selfless......
Royce tried to brawl with Lu.
Didn't work out too well.
Didn't Cole wash Royce on the Boat song?
And Cole is most definitely behind Lupe.
Royce and Lupe aren't in the same class.
Royce and Black Thought is a comparison even further apart
Gotta disagree buddy. Royce is a Jedi
@@RobMarkman yes, Cole doesn't have a Book of Ryan (yet)
You should have skipped that Meg and listened to Lucky Daye
Ima get to Lucky’s album. Hes dope as hell
I never understood his disdain towards Kendrick but admiration to drake especially when drake use collaborators. Lupe comes across as a jealous rapper because he feels he is superior as a lyricist but Kendrick got all the accolades. “Drake is too nice”. Lupe let me down with the cool album when it first dropped. Today after my expectations weren’t met and I listen to it for it is it’s actually good. Not a classic but really good. But today I have grown to hate Lupe. I never met him but like I said prior this jealousy of Kendrick is unbearable. I trust your judgment Rob but again I do go in with every listen with expectations so this angle of Amy winehouse being a battle rapper is pretty interesting but at the same time a reach. Again I would demolish Lupe myself but you will see what I’m talking about later. It better not just be a display of glossary words because that’s not lyricism. That’s actually the novice level of lyrics to be honest and judging that first single with the really trash but arrogant hook “cake”, it’s displaying that bs big word stuff and it reminiscent of ceelo big words. But ceelo is more of a lyricist than Lupe though because his quotable. So I’m expecting quotable when I listen to this Samurai album. I will return with my review.
Yeah i don’t agree with Lupe’s Kendrick takes. But im also just like that’s his opinion and his issue to deal with and Kendrick’s issue if Kendrick wants to take issue with it. Doesn’t really affect how i listen to his music personally
@@RobMarkman so here’s my review. Lupe is a great word player and he has an abundance in vocabulary. I hear he’s very confident and very experienced from the last project I’ve heard. The execution wasn’t to my liking but that’s subjective. I do understand why you put him in top elites emcees but i can’t. He is the stereotypical lyricist that doesn’t understand the balance of what I identify as a real lyricist. The lyricist that can’t provide enough simplicity to have a catchy hook. I would think him being in the game this long he would have developed how to elevate to the next tier of lyricist. A lyricist who can compete with the catchy hooks as well. All the higher tier lyricist understands the importance of a catchy hook along side the verse. Amy winehouse hooks were catchy. There are plenty of lyricist that he can follow the lead of the balance. That always been my issue with him. The only hook I heard was kick push kinda. For him to be so experienced I call him a lower tier emcee because a higher tier emcees is a master of ceremonies and understands the importance of a catchy hook. Will I return to this project again. No. Do I understand why his fan support it. Yes. Was the concept great. No. Was it refreshing. No. It just solidifies my disdain for his music. Again I would demolish his efforts especially now after hearing this attempt. He could never be wack and I can’t say the album is trash either but did this make a stain on hip hop. Hell no. He is another melle Mel to me. Close minded to the evolution of lyricism.
Just call it a podcast bro haha I'm still gone listen regardless
Respect Lupe but don’t enjoy his music
Yeah. It ain’t for everyone for sure
This is a lackLu-ster album. I've been listening since The Cool, it's a classic. Say Something remix. DROGAS Wave. Classic. House. Classic.
This is bs. Lupe has nothing to say, he's trying for a vibey sound, it's not hitting. He's tapping into that boring realm that Nas tends to occupy. I know we love Nas, but there is a huge lack of excitement to his music, which is where Jay-Z had a advantage, and likewise I think Lupe is trying to be relevant because Kendrick is popping off crazy and Lupe sees Kendrick as his rap adversary.
The concept is...lol wtf. And hardly noticeable.
The singing on the choruses is...childish. Especially Cake. Lupe should've got his man Guy Sebastian or Nikki Jean. It's just stupid if you ask me (you didn't).
This album is nothing to listen to. 0/10 because it's Lupe and he should've known better.
L
You cant put Kendrick in the same class as Lupe. You lose all credibility when you say shit like that. Go listen to Hieroglyphics Third Eye Vision. Listen to Pep Love Ascension. When you listen to REAL hip-hop and understand how REAL lyricists get down, you cam quickly see through and dismiss someone like Kendrick Lamar who cant do what these real spitters do in their sleep.
Sure i can put Kendrick in those convos, i just did lol. I copped Hiero Third Eye Vision the day it dropped. Amazing album, I love it. And i still put Kendrick in those convos. You can not like Kendrick that’s fine, but saying he isn’t a real lyricist or real hip hop- whatever that means, is wild.
You're downplaying Kendrick... Both can be different and great...