"'LupEND' -- that's going to be my last album's title." Lupe tells Billboard.com.
"When you play a videogame, you can only put in three letters for your name and when the game's over, those three letters and 'END' pop up. My next record might be my last one." He continued.
In an earlier interview with Billboard, Lupe expressed his disappointment in his career as well as Hip Hop itself.
"My whole energy for making hip-hop music is slowing down. I’ve been doing it for seven years. I still don’t think I’m famous." The MC retorted.
Now however, it appears as if the 'Kick Push' hitmaker has come to terms with his fan base.
"I have a core fan base of about 200,000 people, so I'm fairly comfortable that I can sell 200,000 if it takes me a year-and-a-half."
"I don't know how to make a No. 1 record, so I don't even try," he says.
Fiasco explains that The Cool "is actually the little boy from 'He
In other news…
Say/She Say' who grew up without a father. And the people that step in to raise him are the Streets and the Game, like how people also say, 'The streets raised me.' It's an answer to that."
"The reason behind the whole 'The Cool' concept is because I miss my father, Stack Bundles, my auntie and Chill. I found solace in the miracle in itself and it came out in 'The Cool.' I wish the shit was true." Said Lupe.
You can check out the entire Billboard.com feature, "The Unclassifiable Lupe Fiasco" here.
The Cool is expected to hit stores December 18th, 2007.
COMMENTS
First! Lupe is the hottest rapper out along wit Luda. The Cool is gonna be betta than Food & Liquor, plus he's gonna sell more than these otha wack niggas. Learn it.
ReDef.
if ppl not gonna respect your craft why keep doing it if it's not gonna prove anything to the music listeners of America don't even know if i should call em that cuz if they were "Music Listeners" they would give him his credit
u do it for YOU
I really dont believe hip hop alone responsible for his decending drive to create music.. Lupe is an artist that thinks on a very high level when he ryme. So wit that being said he may have just TEMPORARILY ran out of material or most importantly CREATIVE INSPIRATION. HIP HOP HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT INSPIRATION BUT FOR A ARTIST OF HIS STATUE, THE SHIT JUST AINT THERE FOR NOW..
HE CAN HANG IT UP BUT HE WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE T0 PUT IT BACK ON AND GO AT IT HARD AGAIN.. ALL HE NEED IS MORE INSPIRATION.... AND INSPIRATION IS A RANDOM AFFECT... IM WILLING TO BE THIS WONT BE HIS LAST ALBUM..
word is bomb capcityQ
i hate when these rappers say o this might be my last album, like stfu, if u dont luv the game n have passion for it then leave now we dont need u or ur music
Can't agree wit dat anymore, dey both on such a heights it's unbelievable, it would be great to bring both their flows together in a song wit their ideas n point of views but not for comparison but for music's sake n enjoyment.
Kno wat i think we should push a site where we tryin to send a message to all dem heights rappers like NAS, Obie, LUPE and you kno d rest jus like dey did wit Game one blood when dey had all dem rapppers on one track for 10 mins. If dat get on d radio tell me dat hip hop won't take a turn for d negative, LuPe's positive. You'll we gotta puch dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any ideas anyone jus let em lose.
how is he a bitch for wanting to retire. this dude can actually rap and he feels that all these other wack rappers are more famous and making more cake then he is. Trust me you would want to leave ur situation if ur not gettin the attention u deserve for the good work u put in.
Wow its like you didnt even read the article yo. Remarkable. I believe Lupe is basically one of the cldest out...for him to hang it up after 3 albums makes sense...but I feel him on the state of Hip Hop right now...to a science. Hes droppin illness on just about all this mixtapes and ALBUM, yet this cat gets not really much shine...if Lupe came out around 98-99 hed be set for life, im positive...and he cant be ahead of his time, Hip Hop needs him NOW...his time will never come at the rate Hip Hop is oging...or should I call it "Snap Music." Fuckin no rhythm having bastards
after reading, the album is definatley copped, lupe is a very smart individual and i like how he compressed all his emotions into this interview, great read.
Karma and Scoop, fuck yall. Lupe has turned me completly with Rap/Hip-Hop beacuse he's nothing like the others. He has real lyrics and knows what he's doing. Along with that he probably don't give about the money. "I don't know how to make a No. 1 record, so I don't even try," Yeah he said it but that's beacuse he doesn't believe in himself apparentlym this guy could make number 1 anytime. You calling him a bitch for retiring, you don't know shit.
yall niggaz dont understand...niggaz from the hood dont bump lupe..so the pplz who buy his music is white pplz..so its bootleg... even buck shyt anit due numbers... i respect lupe music and swagger but he's to ahead of his time... as long a soulja boy sells millions with that bull shyt sap.. lupe has no chance
right. Soulja Boy? Im no where near a hater n I see it as; however u get yo money: do it. Dnt get me wrong, its a catchy ass song but people feed into garbage too too much! Lupe is a good ass rapper tho!
"niggaz in the hood" don't buy/bump lupe cuz they worried about all the wrong shit and choose ignorance over bettering themselves. rather complain and point fingers blaming everyone else why not take the first step forward, lupe trying to open eyes. if you wanna stay blind you only have yourself to blame... lol "ahead of his time" ... are u kidding?
he should battle soulja boy lol, dat would create sum buzz lmao
Nah u can't even say dat, Lupe ain't into dem childish games, if he really was chasin d "cool" den he wud be mowin down all dem 'w'rappers n wanna b hip hoppians. Wat he want wit Soulja boy, let Soulja sing his shit n make millions, out of millions God blessed Lupe wit a one of a kind mind. AMAJANESE
he just needs to drop a classic album and hes allset
He's leaving after 3 albums because of the facts he stated in the article PLUS when he first came out 'nationally' I read a article that stated that being a musician was not really his main PASSION anyway...He does it cuz he CAN do it...so if he fills his mission is accomplished after 3 albums so be it...
At least he's making use of his talent. I just hope that he doesn't really stop at 3 albums...
Co-sign. He seems like he's into alot of different things, and he probably can't make a hit record, think about, Nas doesen't even have many. Lyricists just aren't that appealing to the masses, most people would rather here something that makes them dance than think. And there is nothing wrong with that. Example...currently I'm living in Honduras( I'm from VA, though.). Most of the cats here, including the Americans, don't have a clue who Lupe is and haven't heard Food & Liquor or any FnF mixtape. But alot of people, including the Honduranians, know the Souljah Boy dance. Alot of people think that is a huge problem, that that is a sign of Hip-Hop's decline but that isn't the case. People want to have fun, the kid known as "The Cool,"(whom I can identify with, my Dad left too.)is a depressed individual and is way deeper than the average person. He don't dance, he's on some way more intricate
$h!t.
lupe straight as fuck!
if lupe stops after his next album....it will be a huge blow to hip hop, lupe is one of the only dudes putting out solid efforts, one after another.... atleast i have the cool, one more album and the CRS album to look forward too, if he does decide to hang it up after that...that'll have to do, its 10000000000000% better then having 20 souljah boy albums thats for damn sure
lupe my favorite out along with Jump Joe Beezy but I won't feel too bad if he retires cause his material is timeless and it won't be any different from biggie and pac leaving the game as soon as they were forced to. Only difference is he's stilla live to come back and drop an album or mixtape whenever the urge hits him
Im going to buy lupes album twice. Nas didnt move alot of units and he's still in the game. Common recieved his first award not to long ago and he been in the game for 10 years, And his album sold more than khaled and soulja boy. He just need one big hit. Dumb it down lu. Robots and skateboards.
I can really agree with leaving the game after just three albums, but I see this rap thing is really not his passion.
Lupe is honestly the greatest to ever pic up a mic.. hes got SO much talent, nobody in tha game right now can bring as much to the table as him..
i mean.. if he does decide to retire, thats his choice, but for those of us that appreciate TRUE hip hop, and REAL lyrical talent, i hope he stays and keeps doin what he does best..
i hope you died a slow painful death hahah.....
lupe is just the truth! i'm sad to hear that he will retire after one more album!
I can't wait for the cool and i can only pray that he keeps the true meaning of hip-hop coming!!
damn i cant wait 4 da cool
can't wait for "The Cool" but damn Lupe, don't quit yet, the game needs you man, Hip Hop needs real eMCees!!
everybody needs to cop on 12/18, support Lupe, so he stays in the game (he feels unappreciated)
Lupe you wanna know how you make a #1 record? You get the fuck out of 1st and 15th and get signed to rocafella. Get Kanye on your beats and you will be #1 like you should be.
lupe is one of the best rappers alive hands down, bein from chicago, niggas up here don't even fuck wit lupe, which is sad, his music is a breath of air, he gives a picture of the hood(on some songs)wit out talkin bout gunz or drugs, lupe...joe....don't retire b, the kids need u joe, if u retire, all kidz gon be lookin up to wack ass lil wayne, oops to late
I just think Lupe doesn't feel appreciated, cause he can spit no doubt...probably one of the best lyricist in the game right now, pound for pound maybe the best....thats why most dudes dont wanna do a track with him cause they kno its gonna be a match of the wits and not a party record cause thats not his style, I mean he damn near outrapped Jay-Z on that song they did on food & liquor called "pressure".... So if most his peers don't wanna fuck with him because they dont wanna be embarrassed then he can't CATCH A BUZZ AS EASILY, therefore he's just goin in circles as far as his pursuit to be mainstream, but I will say this....Us who really listen to the WORDS still appreciate Fiasco. done.
I agree with Lupe, but I don't think he should give up though. Every musical genre goes through phases. Hip Hop isn't any different. If he sticks it out his reward will be that much more appreciated at the end.
lupe is in the league with a tribe called quest, Pharcyde, the roots, the fugees, talib, common, and Nas... he is under rated by the industry but not by true hip hop heads... even if u dont sell a copy my nigga u a living legend keep your ear to the streets we got love for u my nigga
Yall forgettin people do change thier minds over time. Say The Cool ends up sellin pretty decent, then he might feel he has a reason to stay. He has all the time in the world to really think this over and hopefully he starts getting the attention he deserves.
wtf whats with all these rappers sayin this might be my last album
Honestly most of them say it to boost their sells up, it's all about the business, they started doin this since after Jay did in 04.
but Lupe is right when he said he has certain core fans who appreciate and buy his album. do i think he is gonna stay retired, NO. Because he has great number core fans. keep kickin it dude, album is gonna be classic
Man I heard lupe on my local radio station just a couple days ago and he just blessed the radio station down wit a serious freestyle nothing but the top of the dome. Hip Hop needs True Mc's Not these pill popping, snorting, worthless ass mc's. That's not hip hop.
i don't like his attitude and the reason hes quiting
hes like oh im not famous so im not gonna rap...
that means he must not have that much love for the rap game
its not about being famous its about doing what you love
and i guess he don't love hip hop
o well, all ppl want now days is fame..
sounds like some kanye stuff to me
Damn Hes a quiter cuz wayne had 4 albums b4 the carter n he neva gave up n he been spitn since 13 damn lupe im disapointed smh
n it shows hes only in it 4 da fam not 4 da love of da music so he jus made alot of rappers look like liars i should've knewn he was liek dat since da BET Awards when dey said what would u do if u win Best new artist he said "awww i aint gon win" and the bitch said awww thank positive he was like "negative is my positive"
Nah Lupe not into it for the fame, he into it for change, he tryin to send a postitive message to the world but it don't seem as though the world is ready for the message or ready for him yet. He jus being pushed out n overshadowed by senselss entertainment as wat happens all through time n hip hop time. The man sees' something dat we don't but i do agree wit d fact dat he shouldn't quit dis early but i see why he's doin it though. IT pointless......................well atleast for now. LupeEND.
Lupe is 1 of the only rappers I listen to he is original and you learn from his songs. its brain food and I am a fan, but like homey already said he makes timeless music so I can always pop his CD in for a fix. Im gonna buy 2 copies of the cool
lupe is crazy wack.first of all he swagger jacked a tribe called quest style and then said he dont even like ATCQ ,they not important in hip-hop.hes not important in hip-
hop thats the reason he giving after 3 albums
Lupe sounds like tribe called quest? WOOOOOOOW.
Listen, Lupe fiasco is the Best rapper under 25 period. There nobody name you can compare him with other than the likes of jay-Z, nas, Common, Mos Def Etc.
Its sad...We should praise him for sticking it out THIS long!
Yeah others have dropped albums and kept with it without quiting...Lil Wayne...Cam'ron...BUT! if you think about it. There were WACK albums.
I mean..Think if Jay-Z woulda dropped Reasonable Doubt and Nas woulda dropped and they both got Lukewarm responses. they woulda been thinkin like "DAMN! if this ain't real music what the hell should I do!?"
Thats discouraging to have a CLASSIC song Hurt me Soul, The Cool, The Instrumental, Pressure..Etc, Not to mention the fucking CRAZY verses he dropped on Lupe The Killer, Failure, Switch, Game Time, Pen & Needles!
He outshined Kanye West on Touch The Sky! Co-signed by Jay-Z
What else does he half to do..
That just goes to show you how ignorant fans our. I don't understand it...
This is why Hip Hop is dead.
Superstar should get twice as much air play as Soulja girl...or any other of these wack ass songs out.
So shit..HIP HOP IS DEAD. PERIOD.
Say good bye to your Lupe's, Your jiggas, your Nas', your Royce da 5'9''s. They won't be around too long if this keeps up...
PEACE!
lupe ma nigga but if he only lookin forward to the fame of it all then thats fucked up he aint doin it cus he love rappin and droppin knowledge to those ppl who need to hear it he wanna get "famous" wtf??? u cant give up u still a new jack! man id love to be in his shoes at least he heard! im signed 2 a label right now im local as hell he need 2 get a new preciation for the game u aint gone always sell millions
shit some of the best rappers aint hit plat till later in they career he cant give up cus he aint fuckin famous thats a lame cop out 2 me
I GOTTA AGREE THERE why u even doing it if u realy dont hav the love 4 it man the game is hard.....hes ah smart well he seems to be ah smart dude and u already talking bout ur las album??? b/cuz ur not FAMOUS man when i read tht part it made me look at him in ah different way now....and i really like this cat ...jus keep puting out gd music and it will come back 4 u.....deeeeeetroit
yea im startin 2 look at him different a lil 2......TOLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDO!!!! (i had 2 do it!)
Lupe is dope as a MOfo
He should continue to make albums
yall act like he's really gunna step away after that last album??? this is all media wordplay as long as his records sell and 200,000 people are fuckin with him he's definatley producing more music, think about outside the US also, this is bogus, lupe's too good to hang it up this early i don't believe this one bit..
yea i c that but for him to be such a advocate for real hip-hop and rappin for the love of it to hear him say he jus wanna get famous is kinda wack yea u wanna get known but u aint no better than the plies,soulja boys,shop boys etc. cus u wanna jus get famous
Lupe got great talent, and most of all what I like is he got his own style, his own flow, his own swag... but it just sux that he ain't got real love for making music, he making me think he just in it to get famous... to be honest wit u, the last thing I would want to be is famous... I know the money is what drives most rappers, I just wish there was more artists that were just like fuck all that shit... Im just making this album cuz I love to make music and I want people to have somethin to rock too... I just wanna be heard.
chaos i said he is in the league with them niggas concept music dont make comments about da tribe if u never listen to them... listen to da tribe they spit knowledge eloquently
most underrated rapper
most garbage rapper hes not even confident in himself and he bitches too much
how does that make him a garbage rapper? he represents something completely different in hip hop. thats part of what makes him so great.
Yeah lupe is very under rated like my nigga obie trice. Rap needs more lupes and less snap and pop niggas.
aww man obie is slept on heavily, he a monster wit the lyrics
He Shouldn't Do This But He Don't Get What He Deserve And
For Soulja Boy Lp to Sell More Then Him Come On HipHop Fans!
he's in a leauge of his own. maybe he isnt in it for da fame or popularity. maybe he jus want his message put out there and for people to hear it. and if people dont buy the ablum, no one's gonna hear the message.
to all dem heights rappers like NAS, Obie, LUPE and you kno d rest jus like dey did wit Game one blood when dey had all dem rapppers on one track for 10 mins. If dat get on d radio tell me dat hip hop won't take a turn for d negative, LuPe's positive. You'll we gotta puch dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any ideas anyone jus let em lose.