Lupe Fiasco Scolds Atlantic Records

Lupe gave the keynote address this past Saturday at The Second Regional Academic and Cultural Collaborative in Dayton, OH. During his speech, he spoke out against Atlantic Records offering him a 360 deal and the delay of his long-awaited album, Lasers. Next Friday, fans plan to protest outside the label demanding the project’s release.

lupeend

Tags:
Rate This:
5
Submit No Ratings
57
  1. lol says:

    So wrong, smh

    If Lupe is whack, what is Plies?

  2. QuantumMusik says:

    F*** Atlantic Records, Watch them do the same thing to Wiz… SMFH

  3. CaniBlog? says:

    WOW! dude finally went in on them.

  4. thomas says:

    that’s so LAAAAAAAME
    mass corporate control’s coming to an end
    they trying to contract everything/everyone they can while they can

  5. Pauper says:

    Damn, so payola does exist?!!!

  6. Belize says:

    I don’t know…Sometimes Lupe good, sometimes he bad…

  7. B.Dot says:

    Damn, so payola does exist?!!!
    ^
    *hands u late pass*

  8. mac DIESEL says:

    THE MACHINE > LUPE FIASCO/PROTESTING FANS

    ….U CAN NEVER WIN AGAINST THE MACHINE!!!! THAT’S WISHFUL THINKIN’!!!! WHEN WILL NIGGAS LEARN!!!!

    DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!

  9. ARon says:

    REAL TALK LUPE…man this shit has really gotten outta control..atlantic is getting a bad rep now

  10. RedRocBoy says:

    This is the craziest shit ever. Don’t understand how all these other wackass dopeboy traphouse rappin niggaz get released(Gucci,WaKa,Plies,Etc.). But when a person has real talent and a real message they try to snake em. If he so wake why they tryna pull that 360 shit now. DEATH TO THESE GREEDY PIGS!!!!! FNF UP!!!!

  11. Lupe The Killa says:

    Lupe is the truth! fuk record companies!

  12. Truth says:

    Fuck the record labels? Wit out the machine you know as the record labels none of these big artist would be anything. Wat was Big wit out a label backin him, wat was Jay or Kanye. Just good rappers. Dont come at the labels wit knowing the other side’s reasons. Its about bizness and There’s two sides to every story. Stop running to jump on someone’s ship just cus they talk nice. I wanna hear why they wont release the album before i take sides. I like to collect my facts. All artist need mass distribution so yall can kill that big bad record label shit

  13. mdot says:

    Fuck these labels..they tryn to axle rose u..welcome to the jungle

  14. B.Dot says:

    Fuck the record labels? Wit out the machine you know as the record labels none of these big artist would be anything. Wat was Big wit out a label backin him, wat was Jay or Kanye. Just good rappers. Dont come at the labels wit knowing the other side’s reasons. Its about bizness and There’s two sides to every story. Stop running to jump on someone’s ship just cus they talk nice. I wanna hear why they wont release the album before i take sides. I like to collect my facts. All artist need mass distribution so yall can kill that big bad record label shit

    ^
    Truth. Spread it.

  15. mikey says:

    real talk from lupe

  16. BigBrother says:

    Fuck atlantic Records!
    2010 2pac lol

  17. QuantumMusik says:

    @Co.Sign Be Dot.. yet that still doesn’t give them the right to fuck over there artist… especially one with the talents like Lupe.

  18. Lupe should take a note from the prince playbook lol. But Truth got a point.

  19. Bigkent5000 says:

    @Truth right. Luke needs to sign the 360, get paid. He aint goin platinum or gold on his own without Kanye or somebody like that. Complete his deal with Atlantic then do the E1 thing on his indepent hustle. HU$TLE IV MILLIONZ”

  20. […] I’m sure a lot of you out there are wondering what the hell is going on with Lupe Fiasco and his new album, especially considering we were promised it’s release last year, here’s a clip of Lupe from this past Saturday at The Second Regional Academic and Cultural Collaborative in Dayton, Ohio talking about the hold up with his album and ALL of the fuckery that’s been going on with him and Atlantic Records.  This is pretty interesting stuff, he actually goes into detail about all of Atlatinc Record’s failures to promote him and the confusion going on over there.  props – RR […]

  21. polo kid says:

    This is for Mac Diesel. I go on this website everyday and read comments people leave and I wanna know why do you always diss rappers? Is there any rapper that you like? I think you tried your hand at rapping and tried to get a deal and the labels told you that you are wack.

  22. pablo escobar jr says:

    Who cares. There is a reason why he isn’t getting stuff released. Its probably wack and lupe doesn’t want to accept it. Who is really lookin for a lupe album anyway? Upper middle class teens?

  23. mdot says:

    Bdot
    Yea u right..there’s gotta b stuff goin on behind the scenes lupe went gold and got a grammy..he is succesful at wat he does..so y would they not wanna drop it..but maybe wit the 360 deal he feel they dippn too much in his pockets..at the end of the day the label has more pwr it seems in this situation..I like the idea of protestin the release..but unless the behind the scenes stuff get workd out lupe could still b shelved..it jus sucks that the fans n hip hop gotta suffer the result

  24. Android says:

    Lupe shouldve jst dumped down a lil bit (c)superstar , and gotten that creative control after platinum plaques.

    Best artist out in the last decade wit Kanye. Damn. Nw we gotta deal wit ppl like Aubrey.

  25. Petey B says:

    I don’t think his much anticipated flop will ever drop :-/

  26. MISTER KC says:

    Lupe is saying something those other cats ain’t saying nothing majors ain’t shit without artist not the other way around he already has a fan base he can grind independent how you think this shit started anyway cats with they own mind and will to do this he knows how to record after that it’s promotions and shows you take care of your paperwork and you goodie plus he knows russell simmons that’s all you need to know in this hip hop business shit lupe independent is your option don’t let the bullshit get to you.

  27. gerold says:

    Honestly with some of those weird rock type tracks I would not release it or put money behind iteither. They signed an hip hop artist not some indie punk rock rapper.

    I am all for fighting the power but I understand where they are coming from as far as a business stand point.

  28. Haters are annoying says:

    @Truth co-sign only dude on rap radar with some damn sense

  29. Haters are annoying says:

    @polo kid co sign that mac weasel thing

  30. SayAhh says:

    this has ILLUMINATI all over it…. and Lupe stays wack! Go To Sleep was garbage it literally put me to sleep (just being honest) he hasn’t had something good since THE COOL

  31. Errol says:

    I’m surprised Atlantic hasn’t dropped his ass. SOmeone starts trippin send then home.

  32. SOSOCHI says:

    SayAHH wrote his comment while taking Gucci’s dick.
    Someone starts spittin and talking about the truth, and dumbasses like you call him Illuminati.

    I’m glad Lupe finally said this. Sounds like he wants out of Atlantic’s bullshit, which is exactly what he needs.

  33. The Other P says:

    The music business is just that a business. They probably aren’t releasing the album because it doesn’t have any commercially viable singles.

    Stay touring, drop mixtapes, build your own buzz. Go to markets where your sales weren’t strong, do free/cheap shows. Get the buzz going so strong where the label wants to release your project & not shelve it. But don’t bitch & moan about what Atlantic isn’t doing.

  34. SkidaRoc says:

    No matter what he puts out, Lu sells more than alot of artist that come off Atlantic. His albums can’t cost that much to make, so I really don’t understand what’s the problem. They just want him to be a megastar, and they want to get paid off him being that. The labels don’t get enough bread off record sales anymore, so they gotta dip in all the pots that they can. That’s the main reason for 360 deal, so Atlantic can get paid no matter what an artist record sales are.

  35. SOOPAFRESH says:

    G6 REMIX FT. YOU KNOW WHO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    http://usershare.net/dbfg0flezuhn

    DOWNLOAD LINK

  36. Nahhomie says:

    All this bs about being shelfed, beef with the label, petitions, and protest, all bringing attention to Lupe and his albums, seems to me that this is one hell of a unique marketing plan.

  37. AnuKiNSkywalker says:

    for new artis coming up before you sign lawer lawer lawer or sign a 360 deal and say fuk it take 25% and shut the fuk up.

  38. still best rite now!! says:

    When rebellion goes wrong!! These rappers need to find their lane and stick to it. Drake is a perfect example, remember him signing was in limbo? Ppl were like stay underground, no universal..blah, blah. He got on the ship and sailed! tech N9ne did hid shit the opposite way and is highly successful in his on right! You cant play the fence Lupe, either ur a punk rebel or a “superstar” who wants to be on MTV’s Hottest MC list. u decide!

  39. Face says:

    I really agree with Truth. And Mister KC, if he’s so hot and can go independent, he should then. He shouldn’t “scold” Atlantic or allow fans to protest. He obviously needs their major distribution.

    As well as other artists. Now a days, only Major artists with a HUGE fanbase runs the labels (Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Madonna, Britney Spears, etc). Other artists are at the whims of these labels. It isn’t always “fair,” but if they aren’t moving crazy unit or garnering interest, that’s how it has to be.

    And FTR, Waka, Guccci and Plies are not the best rappers but have been independent and made ppl pay attention to them and got major deals. Also Waka and Plies don’t have the same deals. They’re practically still on their “indie” shit aside from their major distribution.

  40. Red says:

    man why u need to go independant these days
    look what happened to clipse as well prob same thing happening to jeezy

  41. Android says:

    Lupe hit Kanye up. Its time for g.o.o.d music offload a couple tax write offs. Glc, Cyhi can go. Big Sean is on very thin ice. Lupe in= G.O.O.D music.

  42. god says:

    every thing he said is correct. but! he chose to sign with the devil, so deal with the devil. fame costs. and he chose to become famous instead of wealthy and free. he gets NO sympathy.

    god

  43. FuckYouBitch says:

    Stop complaining Lupe!!! No one likes plays your music cuz your a whiney little bitch who makes wackass music!!! And this is coming from one of your biggest fans who was on you way before Food and Liquor. Grow the fuck up, you signed the contract. It’s called business. You try to come off like your so smart but obviously your not because you don’t understand how BUSINESS and making money works.

  44. Lupe The Killa says:

    Go immortal technique on these niggas! sign with VIPER RECORDS….HARLEM MOTHERFUCKER!

  45. Lioness says:

    yo thats crazy son

  46. MATIC says:

    fuggit. sign that 360, homae!

  47. to say all he’s doing is bitching and moaning is not fair.

    all YOU’VE seen is what blogs are posting (that’s overly simple but accurate enough). i’m not saying he’s NOT just complaining, but i give him the benefit of the doubt that he’s doing more than just that. like u just herd him describe paying to shoot his own video and getting it on mtv.

    now in general the over-arching issues are complicated. i understand atlantic’s perspective and Lupe’s. i think Atlantic currently has THE largest market share of all the label’s. they have the hugest chunk of their overall money coming from digital sales. they are currently the model for success in labels in the future. run by lyor cohen.

    they make music like motown did; a team of producers, writers, all collaborating. their goal is to make HITS like the stuff they hand over to B.O.B.

    B.O.B. gets a song and it is already basically a hit because they got dr. luke on the beat and janelle monae on the hook. it’s designed by a team thinking about radio play and itunes sales.

    as Truth has said and gotten props for, you can’t outright diss these important steps and contritubutions of labels. distribution, promotion, marketing. i work for a small indie label we promote a talented guy named jon henry. but if i go on facebook and ask u to listen to his music 99% of u will tell me to eat a dick. but if u herd lil wayne signed him, you’d go check it out and brag to your friends how u knew abt it first. and i see that ppl basically write us off because we don’t have a major label association or co-sign. the power of being able to say “i was signed” or “kanye” or “lil wayne” in connection with your artist is unmatched. it’s priceless. all of a sudden ppl hear the same song differently. it’s a brand name. so i know labels are important. u can’t GET your song on the radio without a machine. and yes, payola is real. labels pay indie promoters to pay radio stations. so the machine makes stars. money is the most important factor not talent.

    i assume Lupe Wants mainstream success but not on anybody’s terms but his own. i don’t know why that’s so hard to accept for people. now me personally, i would welcome a label just handing me pop hits. but Lupe doesn’t want that. he could easily dumb down his style and do that. but it would be a sell-out move for him that it wouldn’t be for me (because i LIKE dumb party records and stuff like that). these are tough choices for any artist. the guy can rap like Biggie on a song, then like Ghostface – trust me, he could do a simple-ass club record. but he walks a path he chose and has to accept that he’ll never get a pop audience like kanye or even like soulja boy making difficult, self-pleasing records. and his label is obviously trying to go a different route so there will be friction.

    i love atlantic for the most part. they are doing it rite now. i love lupe. positive vibes to all!

  48. Lupe The Killa says:

    @Billy Rae Valentine Well said my man…couldnt agree more…LUPE just standing by what he believes…

  49. Zayd Muhmmad Learmont says:

    They Really Do Not Give Lupe The Credit Thats he Deserves They Are Pulling him back from his Dream just like they did with Michael Jackson

  50. YaDig says:

    These are the same fuckers that are messing Tip’s shit too.

  51. […] just wondering why Lupe wasn’t getting in on the fun. I know he’s got a little situation going on, but […]

  52. y'all are corny... says:

    @Truth

    Major labels aren’t making money through distribution anymore which is why they are trying their best to dip into the artists’ other ventures. We’re past the age of needing radio now and hard copies (CDs) are almost irrelevant. You can start your OWN youtube account for FREE and post your video, so you don’t need MTV or BET. You can open your OWN account with any digital distibutor and split the funds with them. Or you can give it away for FREE via Twitter, so what real role does the radio play? Shit you can even start your own website for FREE and have a designer fix it up real nice for just a few hundred bucks. I know it’s been said a million times before but focus your grind on the street. Pay attention to what the major labels do and COPY them. You may not have the same budget but you can focus on your demographic directly. You guys are under the impression the you can’t do what the majors do when they only do what indies do just on a bigger scale. And, no, you don’t have to be signed to Wayne or Jay-Z for people to give a damn. Count the amount of artists major stars try to introduce to the public and FAIL! That’s a fucking illusion. Stop being afraid to put your money up and commit!

  53. […] Change of heart Lupe? Just a week before the protest outside Atlantic Records, Lupe tweeted a pic with Atlantic President Julie Greenwald earlier today giving the thumbs up. Hopefully now a release date from Lasers will emerge soon. Victory is sweet. […]

  54. I’m a newcomer to WordPress blogs and merely wrote my best 1st entrance now, i won’t be able to commence to identify how equivalent this post is to this circumstance! Lmao ! My spouse and i resigned by my company and also was performing some translation work opportunities in addition to thriller searching to repay the bills, however i won’t be able to escape the point that after a pair of paychecks, I’ll be shattered once more! The good thing is My partner and i witout a doubt acquired a full time job provide therefore the freelance hustlin’ really wait for tiny bit. excellent publish ! 🙂

Leave a Reply