Lupe Speaks to Kay Slay

Lupe called into Kay Slay’s show yesterday to clarify his latest string of anti-Midnight Marauder comments, including the MC Hammer remarks in VIBE. Obviously, VIBE had already interviewed Lupe prior to VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, but decided to publish that in order to join the Fiascogate conversation. It’s funny how my good friends at VIBE incorporated Lupe’s VH1 flub and some of Eskay’s comments into the interview to make Lu’s comments appear recent. As Clyde points out, that VIBE interview now spots a disclaimer saying that it was recorded prior to Hip-Hop Honors.

Lupe also speaks to Kay Slay about his decision to ditch his early thug persona, which was showcased on his first major single “Pop Pop.” Plus, that CRS album with Kanye and Pharrell looks like it’s really going to happen.

Update: Tip’s detailed response to Lupe [hiphopdx.com]

Things couldn’t get any worse for Lupe, following his anti-ATCQ remarks. His last line of defense was that Q-Tip personally asked him to be a part of the VH1 tribute. Well, Tip is saying that he never approached Lupe about the show.

“We never hunted him down and begged him to be a part of the show or anything like that. His name was pitched to us by VH1, and we said, ok cool. The only time I spoke to Lupe about the Hip Hop honors performance was on a conference call, which we did with the others artists too, like Busta and Common, to plan the performance.

When VH1 brought his name up, based on what he had said about us before, I thought it was ironic and it kind of humored me. All that stuff he said about never listening to a Tribe album before and having no interest in doing so, it doesn’t make sense to me.

As I said on the show itself, it was listening to NWA’s “Straight Outta Compton” that inspired us to make “Low-End Theory,” and years later, I spoke to Dr. Dre and he told me that hearing “Low-End Theory,” inspired him to make “The Chronic.” That’s what music does. That’s what artists do, they seek out information, of all kinds.

But no, I never hunted him down to be part of the tribute. That didn’t happen.” [Source: Missinfo.tv]

Lupe really needs to move up his album release date, because he couldn’t buy this type of publicity if he wanted to.

The Cool in stores on December 18th.

Update: Lupe, you’re a talented kid and all, but please stop talking. And go hire a good PR.

Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool in stores December 18th. Cop two copies.

[Spotted at hiphopdx.com]

I tried my best to ignore Lupe’s previous remarks about A Tribe Called Quest, a group to which he should be paying royalties. After all, the guy is young and is bound to say some stupid things somewhere down the line. But, as a proud owner of an original copy of Midnight Marauders, I’m surprised by his latest sprouts of ignorance. It’s one thing to say you’ve never listened to Midnight Marauders, it’s another thing to say you don’t care for it. That last point is sheer arrogance, and Lupe needs to apologize for that.

And this is coming from a guy who constantly bigs up Lupe as the next great thing in hip-hop.

The truth is, that 2 bar slip-up would not be getting all the attention it’s getting if Lupe hadn’t bragged about not listening to Tribe and not bothering to discover their music at all. Lu, please stop making excuses and own up to your nignorance.

Backstory on Fiascogate:
Lupe Fiasco vs. Phonte [Okayplayer]