The Audacity of Dope

Incredible new visuals from Nabil Elderkin and the Distant Relatives.  “Patience” is found on one of two albums Lupe mentioned as his favorites of 2010 in our interview, and I must agree.  I remember hyping this album up and then being surprised when people didn’t generally rank it as high as I did.  It’s going to go down as one of the more underrated projects of the last decade.

Sidenote: how salty does Kanye have to be after seeing this?  Nabil is virtually his in-house director and he was sitting on this gem that would have been perfect for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy aesthetics…

I’ve been watching Hov make the rounds to damn near every media outlet in NYC over the past week, but I wasn’t really sold that I wanted to check out Decoded until this interview at the New York Public Library.  It’s almost 2 hours, so it’s certainly long, but if you can watch it, I highly recommend it.  There’s really good, insightful commentary from Jay, Cornel West, and Paul Holdengraber throughout.

Shout to Shad’s manager, G, who sent it over and summed it up nicely:

There is a video link below.  It’s not short.  But it’s great.

It reminded me about how important the work that we do is.  We are quite literally changing the future.

For the remaining history of this world, people who love really good food, will undoubtedly stumble upon the creative output of our friends.  I think that’s f*cking incredible, and I often forget…to remember it.

It was great to revisit Jay-Z as an artist…and it was great to see Cornel West attempt to evoke just a bit more enlightenment in a person who he clearly has a ton of respect for already.

This video also made me realize how important it is to have a Cornel West Uncle at the dinner table.

Anyways, here she is.  Dig in someday.

Now…who’s gonna cop Decoded for me for Christmas?

Oh hell yes.  As referenced here, Shad’s new album, TSOL, is on the way and I couldn’t be more excited for a project this year.  I think the only other rapper that makes me rewind for lyrics as much as Shad is Lupe, and y’all already know I’m a Lupe Stan.  If you aren’t up on Shad, don’t worry, there’s room on the bandwagon.  But um…get on NOW.

Shad – “Yaa I Get It”

Spread the mp3 to your people and share the good word on Shad…

The homey Roosevelt Treasure Chest just dropped a new mixtape featuring production from one of the more slept on cats out there, SC.  Don’t be fooled by the generic title, the tape is dope.  Hosted by Just Blaze and featuring guests like Mikkey Halsted, Mobb Deep, Naledge, GLC, Game, Lupe Fiasco, and more, this is definitely something y’all should peep.  Tracklisting and download link below.

Download here.

The new issue of Complex Magazine features 4 covers, 2 with Cassie and then the other split between N.E.R.D. and Lupe.  Marcus Troy has the pics, including some of Cassie’s photoshoot.  Look at them.  Now.

The homies over at The Lupe Fiasco Show are giving aspiring music video directors an opportunity to get some shine, along with all sorts of cool prizes.  Go here for the complete rules, but basically, if you make a video for either “Gotta Eat,” “Just Might Be Okay,” or “And He Gets The Girl,” and you win, you’ll be featured on Lupe’s official website and get a bunch of autographed goodies.  So be creative, break out Final Cut Pro, and get busy…

Oh, and I don’t know if I’d recommend tackling “And He Gets The Girl,” unless you think you can top this web video some kid made a while back.  If you think you can, show and prove.  Good luck.

Being the huge Lupe fan that I am, I had to post this up for y’all to check out. A Chicago producer named Itch13 remixed Lu’s “I Gotcha” off Food & Liquor, and it turned out pretty dope. I still prefer the original, but this is a good one for the collection:

Lupe Fiasco – “I Gotcha (Itch13’s Maceo Parker Funk Mix)”

Swiped from IllRoots.

Next up from Chi-town, FNF representative Gemstones, just got a nice little feature on VIMBY. He takes you through Chicago, talking about his style, his inspirations, and his upcoming album, all the while displaying some of his personal growth as an artist. He also got really in depth about his evolution when we had him on Sound Session a few months back. If you missed that interview, you can download it right here ( or through the back up / streaming link available here).

Be on the lookout for Gemstones’ Testimony of Gemstones mixtape dropping very soon…for real this time!

Shout to KayCee for the video

What better way to start off my blogging than by bigging up one of my favorite MC’s in the game, Lupe Fiasco. Here’s some footage of Lu receiving his gold plaque for the ridiculously dope The Cool album. If you haven’t copped it yet, you’re sleeping. We need to support the good hip-hop major labels decide to put out, otherwise it’s ringtone rap for all. Special appearances from the homey Jason Salvador, Lupe’s murse, and I think my dude Niles is somewhere there in the crowd.

Lu’s on point with the idea of “selling positivity” and “feeling good morally” about what they release. Hopefully other artists follow suit. Keep it up Lu!

Swiped from Lupe’s Busy’s blog.