List of controversies

List of controversies American rapper Lupe Fiasco has been involved in. Rolling Stone penned, he "used to gain as much attention for his protests as for his music."Lee, Christina (October 25, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Is Avoiding Politics on 'Tetsuo & Youth'". Rolling Stone. Kameron Virk of BBC News remarked, "has never been one to hold his tongue,"Virk, Kameron (July 26, 2020). "Lupe Fiasco: America's Influence in the World Is 'Dwindling'". BBC. while Business Insider Indias Christina Sterbenz said in agreement, "is no stranger to controversy. […] Whether discussing war, religion, or the rap-game, Lupe doesn't hold back."Sterbenz, Christina (July 11, 2013). "Rapper Lupe Fiasco's Most Controversial Statements and Lyrics". Business Insider India. Notable moments include Fiascogate, criticism of then-President Barack Obama's foreign policy, and publicized feuds with Chief Keef, Kid Cudi, and Royce da 5'9".
While the rapper at first rejected the label of being "controversial," believing the media pinned the label onto him, he began to embrace it. He stated to Billboard in 2014, "You realize, 'Oh, this is a game. Let's play this controversy-sells game. Let me just engage this fan and have people watch this conversation,' which is what happened. My tweet was literally, 'Iggy Azalea has her place in hip-hop,' which is so open-ended. Half the people are coming at her throat, the other half are supporting, and I'm more in the middle—it's like, I don't even care."Golianopoulos, Thomas (January 15, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco Talks New Album, Defending Iggy Azalea & Quitting Twitter: 'I Don't Want to Be Relevant'". Billboard.
In March 2018, he issued a number of apologies, including to Obama—"I should've kept my political opinion to myself. I come from radical politics, I don't come from liberal, centrist politics. My response was in line with the revolutionary response and how people view America outside of America. […] I didn't wanna mar his first Black president [status]"—Kendrick Lamar, Keef, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Donald Glover, Azealia Banks, among others.Gee, Andre (March 20, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Apologizes to Obama, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar and Countless Others — But Not Kid Cudi". Uproxx.
== 2007: Fiascogate ==
Fiasco was a performer at the VH1's Hip Hop Honors in October 2007, to give tribute to American hip hip group A Tribe Called Quest. He forgot the lyrics for their song "Electric Relaxation" during the medley performance. Later on, he revealed that he never grew up on ATCQ and became defensive. This led to Tribe fans being outraged and condemned him on message boards for not putting in the work beforehand. This incident was dubbed as 'Fiascogate,' as Fiasco argued back with some of the fans.Rodriguez, Jayson (October 11, 2007). "Lupe Fiasco vs. A Tribe Called Quest: A 'Fiascogate' Timeline". MTV News.
== 2008-2011: Conspiracy Theories ==
In 2008, at the end of Fiasco's performance on the Late Show with David Letterman, he stated, "No New World Order." This was alluding to the conspiracy theory that elitists were secretly planning to emerge as a totalitarian world government.Broderick, Ryan (January 21, 2013). "A Timeline of Lupe Fiasco's Obsession with Conspiracy Theories". Buzzfeed.
BET wrote of when Lupe attended the 2011 protest Occupy Wall Street and, upon being interviewed by the organization We Are Change, shared his opinion on 9/11 and New World Order. He stated of the first, "There was never really a real, proper investigation. It's just something that always stood out as a sort of elephant in the room for me." This was mentioned in his song "Words I Never Said" with the lyric '9/11, Building 7, Did they really pull it?' He added, "I think the New World Order is something that is deliberate and in the public. I don't think it's as nefarious as a lot of people make it out to be. It's just a lot of things that we silently allow to happen. […] I'm not on any side of the fence. My thing is, let's just get to the truth."Ugwu, Reggie (September 20, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Talks 9/11 Conspiracy at New York Protest". BET.
== 2010: 2DopeBoyz ==
In May 2010, it was reported that co-founder of 2DopeBoyz.com, Shake, attempted to interview Fiasco backstage. Instead, Shake was faced with the rapper's security who did not regard him kindly. This led to Shake declaring his end of coverage and support of the rapper and tweeted out, "I come to talk with u like a man and get a person with his boys wanted to intimidate me? Fuck that. […] I sincerely wish the worst for him.""I Thought Lupe Fiasco Was a Badass?". XXL. May 14, 2010.
In an outtake from his May 2011 cover story with XXL, Fiasco detailed, "My first record leaked months before it came out. It send everything into a tizzy and fucked up a lot of the momentum I had. That left me a little salty with the internet as a whole. Don't steal. The dude from 2Dopeboyz had "Beaming" on his laptop. He had songs off Lasers and this was last spring. You going back a full year and the way it was done was, he took a screen shot of his Twitter page and was like, 'Haha, You wish.' People think that I'm lying." He said overall of the internet, "Sometimes I wish I never found the Internet. Sometimes I regret getting a laptop and Wi-Fi for logging into the Internet because it is such a distraction. If you have any addictive personality, the Internet will magnify it. You have to be careful on the Internet."Osorio, Kim (May 2, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Lashes Out at Blogs". BET.
== 2010: Soulja Boy ==
In XXLs November 2010 issue, Soulja Boy exclaimed, "I don't want to be super-Lupe-Fiasco-lyrical and n*ggas don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. I want to be the best." Fiasco responded on Twitter to the article, "SUPER LYRIC DAT HO! YUUUULE!!!," "Lemme see…LYRIC BOY SWAG, U CAN'T UNDERSTAND ME CUZ MY LYRIC BOY SWAG!!! Hahaha…," and "I like the lil homey Souljah…he doing his thang…to each his own..M.O.E!"
In an interview at a Radio One Conference, Fiasco explained Soulja's comments, "He don't want to be 'super Lupe Fiasco lyrical' and say stuff people don't understand. That's putting the context on it [but XXL Magazine] were actually talking about his songs. So they said, 'Why you got records where you're really going lyrical?' Lyrical in the sense where you're using metaphors, similes, double entendres, big words. They're like, 'Why do you have songs like that but then on the same time, you got songs like 'Pretty Boy Swag' which you're not lyrical at all.' [Soulja Boy] said, 'Well every song doesn't have to be super Lupe Fiasco lyrical.' Every song has to be what that song is. Some songs have to be simple because they need to be simple, because you can't rap that many words on it. Just using that as a simple example. Some songs are just a hook and a beat and you don't need to get in the way of that. Some songs are a wack beat and you got to keep working on it—you gotta make this outfit work because it don't really match—every song doesn't have to be super lyrically complex and at the same time, too, you need those songs that 'are' like that. There's the balance but that's a completely artistic, subjective thing. Subjective in that it's just what you want. There's no rules in the music business and don't nobody know what's going to work. Half of it is we all do it the best that we can, be academic about it and the rest is I hope the world is going to like it.""Soulja Boy Settles Lupe Fiasco Lyrical Dispute, "Controversy Sells"". SOHH. December 1, 2010.
Soulja Boy clarified they were on good terms, telling XXL of their possible collaboration, "Yeah, man, we was talkin' about that. He was like, 'Let's do a song.' I'm on this crazy, hectic schedule right now, and I really don't like working through e-mail, I'd rather be in the studio and feel that energy. So, when I get time to get in the studio, we'll make that happen […] He hit me up. We chopped it up on the Twitter, on [Direct Message]. We chopped it up over the phone. It was nothin'. He already know how the media get; controversy sells. It's nothin' but love."Fleischer, Adam (December 1, 2010). "Soulja Boy Plans to Work with Lupe Fiasco". XXL.
== 2011-2013: Barack Obama ==
Appearing on CBS's What's Trending, Fiasco criticized Obama's foreign policy: "To me, the biggest terrorist is Obama in the United States of America. I'm trying to fight the terrorism that's causing the other forms of terrorism. You know the root cause of terrorists is the stuff the U.S. government allows to happen. The foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists."Perpetua, Matthew (June 9, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Declares Obama a Terrorist". Rolling Stone. This was reinforced in "Words I Never Said" with the lyric 'Gaza Strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say shit / That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either.'
For his performance at StartUp RockOn on January 20, 2013, he performed "Words I Never Said" for his full 30-minute slot, beforehand declaring he did not vote for Obama. It resulted in being escorted off stage. The organizers wrote in a statement to HyperVocal.com, "We are staunch supporters of free speech, and free political speech. This was not about his opinions. Instead, after a bizarrely repetitive, jarring performance that left the crowd vocally dissatisfied, organizers decided to move on to the next act.""Lupe Fiasco Removed from Stage at Inaugural Party". Rolling Stone. January 21, 2013. This concert happened to occur the same time as Barack Obama's inaugural weekend.
He claimed on Katie Couric World 3.0 in 2014 that he was "immediately blackballed," "lost a lot of friends" and sponsorships; however, he did not regret his comments of Obama. He reflected to Vibe in 2019, "When me and Obama had our situation, people stopped picking up the phone and kind of stepped back, which is cool—do that, because I don't know where this is going to go either. But you level up because that opens up a door. […] It's gonna affect change on a much much higher level in a much much more direct way with the folks who actually have their hands on the levers of social change, social direction, and social power."Ketchum III, William (February 22, 2019). "Lupe Fiasco on New World Water, and Changing the World with His Bars Before Leaving Rap Behind". Vibe.
== 2012-2023: Chief Keef and Drill/Violent Music ==
Fiasco has continuously expressed disapproval of violent music, which "effectively says it's 'OK' to be violent. It provides positive reinforcement for negative actions."Murray, Robin (March 25, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Blasts Violent Lyrics in Hip Hop". Clash. He believed drill music to be "dangerous," where he told XXL in 2022, "N*ggas is drilling and killing all over the fucking world. I wish this n*gga wasn't telling the truth, but they telling the truth. And n*ggas just hear it as entertainment. […] We not supposed to be dancing to the shit, man, you feel me? This is different. And the only reason I care so much is these n*ggas is 13, 14."Coleman II, C. (July 14, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Gives a Deeper Meaning to His Music, Mindset and Martial Arts". XXL.
Lupe discussed about violent music over a series of tweets on March 25, 2012:
Violent music (and all violent media) effectively says its "ok" to be violent. It provides positive reinforcement for negative actions. If you rap and make violent music then own up to it. Stop hiding behind "art imitating life" as a way to evade the guilt. "How the hell you gonna tell this man not 2 be violent?, Cuz he dont need to go the same route that I did" -Eminem & Dr. Dre "Choices". Sorry…"Bad Meets Evil"…"Guilty Conscious"…sorry…lol correct title of the song aside, U know what I meant! The issue stands that violent music puts violence into this world one way or another.
It creates the atmosphere that violence is an acceptable means to an end. Agree or disagree doesnt really matter at this point honestly. But to not even acknowledge the possibility that violent music has even the most minute effect on violence in the world is frankly bullshit. Ive made violent music. Done violent things. Most my friends are violent. Lived in violent neighbors. Seen violence first hand. A certain point you start to get tired of it. You ask why? why is it like this? what is causing this? why is this ok to live like this? Then you turn on the news and see that a 12 month old got shot in the face by two teenagers in Georgia for no reason at all. Then you hear a song on the radio talking about "shooting everyone in sight"…bad times man…fuck… you may not give two shits about the next man and his troubles and thats cool with me…live you life…but I do and most people I know do. but dont sit there and act like high ass inner city murder rates are just falling from the sky for absolutely no reason… everything plays a part…EVERYTHING. Take responsibility for the part you play. motherfuckers can at least start there. yeah I got issues. My hood aint been safe in 25 years! At the point now u can die for nothing. just random death and disregard. tired of it. I know you don't hear me. I guess its the LAST desperate act of a desperate man in desperate times.Kujundic, Peter (March 25, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Talks Violence in Music". Hypebeast.
In September 2012, during an interview with Baltimore's 920, Fiasco stated "Chief Keef scares me." He added that the fellow Chicagoan rapper is one of the many that perpetuates violence through the messages in their music. This led to Keef tweeting an open threat at Lupe. Fiasco responded before deleting the tweets, and stated of his possible retirement from music after the drop of his album Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1.Alexis, Nadeska (September 6, 2012). "Lupe Fiasco Considers Retirement After Chief Keef Spat". MTV News. Days later at the Canadian show, Yorkfest, he gave a public apology to Keef, adding, "I love my brother. I want to see him succeed and do his thing, and that goes for everybody anywhere, everywhere in the world. So shout out to the big homie Chief Keef!""Lupe Fiasco Shouts Out Chief Keef, Apologizes for Comments". HipHopDX. September 13, 2012. On January 19, 2024, he addressed whilst in online beef with Kid Cudi, "Met Keef at the studio soon after that. No issues. Shook up. All good. Be clear…Any issues, misunderstandings Ive ever had in this business have been handled face to face or over the phone."Lane, Lexi (January 19, 2024). "Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco Have Seemingly Made Amends, Hours After the Viral Bape Story Drama". Uproxx. 
His 2022 song "On Faux Nem" mentions, 'Rappers die too much.'
On March 2, 2023, he attended a panel at Harvard that discussed drill music and its impact on culture and society. He openly opposed the genre."Generation Drill: Violence, Art, and the Future of Hip Hop". YouTube. March 2, 2023.
== 2012: "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" and Pete Rock ==
On May 21, 2012, he released the single "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" which samples the 1992 song "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" by Pete Rock and CL Smooth. That same day Pete Rock voiced dissatisfaction, saying:
No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone. Feel so violated,the beat is next to my heart and was made Outta anguish and pain. When it's like that it should not be touched by no one!
It's so hard for folks to make original music, I possess that, but these dudes are scared of that and this is supposed to be HIP HOP? Man I'm a lupe fan and everything but TROY was my homie man. I think about him and Hev every fucking day!!!! Smh
This business can be so lame, sometimes I make beats blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back and still these cats can't be original to Save their fucking life. #impissed
It's pure fuckery yo,let's that fucking song live man. That do over shit is fucking corny!!!! It sounds best just the way the fuck it iz. So untalented and unoriginal. Makes me feel like I'm truly the best that ever did it. Yo hev and t-Roy I love and miss da shit outta y'all. U guys have been violated with no Vaseline. So fucked up this business smmfh!!! And I don't care who got something to say about it, kiss my Entire black ass. #violationtodafullest
Lame Ducks with absolutely no talent if u can't make ur own hit. FOH
I'm not flattered @ all. Dat shit is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his fuckin self. Smh. That record is dear to me yo fuck deez n*ggas!!!! I'm still Dat n*gga out here believe it or don't. Ur ignorance not mine, lame duck bullshit.
I think lupe is a great artist, I'm that angry with him but it's a major label idea. I can feel it. And y'all need to stop the childish games, I'm a fan of lupe and he is a great artist and a great person. And let me be clear cuz a lot of y'all don't know this. But Tom Scott himself gave me an approval for TROY, told me I did a great job!! As did Luther vandross as well spoke to me about how I covered “don't u know that” and approved!! Goodnight! 😉 #officialWeingarten, Christopher (May 22, 2012). "Pete Rock Slams Lupe Fiasco for Crappy 'T.R.O.Y.' Bite". Spin.
Fiasco elaborated to CNN, "It definitely wasn't like, 'Hey, I'm going to steal that, and nobody's going to know.' The original 'T.R.O.Y.' came out in 1992, and it was like a 20th anniversary kind of thing. I tried to honor it. Of course, there was homage being paid, but certain logistics of the record didn't go through as (Pete) wanted, and then his backlash, and then my explanation, and then there was supposed to be a public kind of mending of the situation on his behalf, which didn't occur." Nevertheless, he said that he still held respect for the producer: "I'll just wait this one out, see what happens. Let time reconcile this, time and distance. I still big him up. Shout to Pete Rock, shout to CL Smooth in everything I do because at the end of the day, it is his record.""Lupe Fiasco Says "Let Time Reconcile" Rift with Pete Rock". HipHopDX. August 7, 2012.
== 2012: "Bitch Bad" and Spin ==
On June 25, 2012, his single "Bitch Bad" was released, which offers discourse on misogyny in music. Its lyrics and music video faced criticism for its watered-down message that lacks accountability from males and blames women for internalizing messages from the media. Fiasco also urged a boycott against magazine Spin, who lambasted the record and visual.Butan, Christina (August 24, 2012). "OKP News: Lupe Fiasco Boycotts Spin Magazine + Talks "B**ch Bad" on 106 & Park". Okayplayer.
ROES (fka Angel Haze) responded with their own version to subvert Fiasco's.
== 2013: Childish Gambino ==
On July 28, 2013, Fiasco tweeted out, "Roscoe's should serve a 2pc. white with beans and call it "The Wind Beneath My Wings."" The LupeFiascoStore.com account replied, "@LupeFiasco can we get one stand-up from you? Just one? I don’t care when you do it.. I just need a formal comedy show starring Lupe Fiasco." Fiasco responded, "That’s like pulling a @DonaldGlover in reverse," and the account suggested he should collab with Childish Gambino (also known as Donald Glover), which "doesn't have to be music either." Fiasco returned, "Nah, I don't work with blacks." When a fan pointed out he worked with Wale and Rick Ross, Fiasco said, "Those were n*ggaz. Blacks and n*ggaz come from 2 completely different parts of the chicken…" Childish responded with tweet verbatim to Keef's words: "Lupe fiasco a hoe ass n*gga And wen I see him I'ma smack him like da lil bitch he is." It was all confirmed to be a joke, though, where Fiasco said: "Well that settles it…even wit a private twitter & obvious jokes I still somehow make headlines… #sideeyes @VibeMagazine @childishgambino."Rogulewski, Charley (July 28, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Beefs with Childish Gambino: "I Don't Work with Blacks"". Vibe.
Later in October 2013, Glover appeared on The Breakfast Club and believed it was a "sneak diss," because he didn't come from the streets. Fiasco addressed on Twitter that he doesn't sneak diss, and claimed he watched more anime than Gambino."Lupe Fiasco Responds to Childish Gambino: "I Watch More Anime Than You"". Complex. October 25, 2013.
== 2013-2016: Kendrick Lamar ==
On August 14, 2013, Fiasco published the track "SLR 2" in response to Kendrick Lamar's 2013 "Control" verse. Lupe rapped, 'He's so crazy, look at the little baby / N*gga you ain't Nas, n*gga you ain't Jay-Z / You will respect me, you will reject me / But I've done so much, no matter how far you go, you will reflect me.'Bustard, Andy (September 7, 2022). "TDE's Punch Names 'Best' Response to Kendrick Lamar's 'Control' Verse". HipHopDX.
In a June 2014 interview with radio station HOT 97, Fiasco believed that Lamar was not the best lyricist in the game, naming King Los and Logic to be better."Lupe Accuses Rosenberg of Huggin Kendrick's Nuts Too Tight!". YouTube. June 3, 2014. Lamar said to KUBE 93 FM in response, "Everybody entitled to an opinion, you feel me. I just continue to do what I do. Everybody feel they own aspect of it, and how they look at different artists, but I just continue to do what I do."Fleischer, Adam (June 10, 2014). "Kendrick Lamar on Lupe Fiasco's Comments: 'Everybody Entitled to an Opinion'". MTV News.
On January 5, 2018, Fiasco felt that Lamar's single artwork for "All the Stars" was in likeness to his Drogas Light album artwork. He tweeted, "Even I admit this is a little too close for comfort…😔...damn now I guess I need a new album cover… thanx @TheBlackPanther." He continued of their similarities, "All black album covers, Backwards albums, Ninja! Now this...I'm getting suspiciously delicious hahahha 🧐." President of TDE Dave Free responded, "@LupeFiasco go kick & push yourself into a tree with these wild allegations. 😂" Lupe replied, "I see what you did there. However it's rather impossible to skate into a tree because most trees are located in grass where skateboards don't actually work to well due to the wheels not really being optimal for traversing across such terrain. Now a car or say a well placed gate."Smith, Trevor (January 6, 2018). "TDE President Responds to Lupe Fiasco's Comments About Kendrick's Artwork". HotNewHipHop.
On January 6, 2018, Fiasco made a series of now-deleted tweets, which mainly critiqued Lamar's "Control" verse:
I'll put it to you like this. K. Dot is not a top tier lyricist to me and my standards when it comes to punchlines and bars. His overall lyrics are good, his stories phenomenal, but punchline entendre lyrically I don't see it.
I've never been destroyed. Also the only issue that the world thinks I have with KDot and I actually do is that I think his 'Control' verse was wack and super overhyped to be a verse claiming you are the best rapper.
In a follow-up the same year in March, he apologized over an Instagram livestream, stating, "Maybe I should have just left it alone. Even though my impetus was the 'Control' verse. I mean you put yourself out there like that. So, you opened yourself up to critique, but even that still, I should have just shut my fucking mouth. I apologize for even engaging and talking about n*ggas careers, I'll never do that shit again."Watson, Elijah (March 27, 2018). ""I'll Never Do That S**t Again": Lupe Fiasco Apologizes for Criticizing Kendrick Lamar's Talent". Okayplayer.
On September 20, 2020, Fiasco said that he was a better lyricist than K-Dot. The following day, he explained further on the now-deleted tweets:
In my own words…once again for you b*tches…I love me some KDot…always have always will
With that said do think I he's a good lyricist? Yes. Do I think he's the best lyricist? No. Do I think it's lyricists that are better than him? Yes. Is he a better artist than me? Yes. Is he a better lyricist than me? No. Does he make better songs than me? Yes.
Did I think control was ridicule? No. Am I jealous of Kdot? No. Did I personally give him his props in Chicago on stage as the next n*gga to take the crown? YES. Is It on camera? Yes. Did I mean it? Yes.Richards, Will (September 22, 2020). "Lupe Fiasco Claims He's a Better Lyricist Than Kendrick Lamar – But Not a Better Artist". NME.
HipHopDX observed, "The poignant explanation was enough to draw a simple 'LOL' from TDE President Punch who also convinced many fans he was alluding to a "Heart Pt. 5" response from Kendrick Lamar down the line."Clark, Trent (September 27, 2020). "Hip Hop Week in Review: Kendrick Lamar & Lupe Fiasco Rap Debate Rages On & Tory Lanez Challenges His Cancellation". HipHopDX.
On May 13, 2022, with Lamar's release of the album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Fiasco took to Twitter to praise, "Reporting from Hawaii. Exceptional work Mr. Lamar ☺️.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. May 13, 2022.
In December 2022, as part of an introduction to his MIT course, Rap Theory & Practice, he did an analysis of Lamar's "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" along with Eminem's "Stan" and his own song, "Jonylah Forever."Brown, Preezy (December 29, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Decodes Eminem and Kendrick Lamar Lyrics in MIT Lecture". Vibe.
He noted over an Instagram livestream on September 22, 2020, that when people "start that shit," such as thinking there's beef between him and Lamar, he only brings the topic up to end it."Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". Instagram. September 22, 2020.
== 2013: Dizaster ==
On October 29, 2013, Fiasco posted his reaction to the King of the Dot battle between Dizaster and Aye Verb. He ruled in favor of Aye, adding that Dizaster "looks like drake," then called them "subpar" rappers. This led to Dizaster retorting, "congrats ur googlin and sending me pics. Grow up pussy. Ur a black miley cyrus." Dizaster added, "Attention battle rap fans please dont let these industry rappers trick u in to thinkin they can hang with us, they are studio rappers" and "get a fuckin life u have 2 much time on ur hands then maybe drake wudnt b whippin ur ass alover the charts and fuckin ur bitches." Fiasco called Dizaster "wack" and an "angry Drake."Tardio, Andres (October 29, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Disses Dizaster, Calls Him "Angry Drake"". HipHopDX.
On June 10, 2014, they exchanged insults again, where Fiasco's comments about Logic, Los, and Cassidy being better lyrical rappers than Kendrick Lamar made Dizaster write, "I fuck with kendrick man....@LupeFiasco this faggot wants to always give his opinion on dudes that are light years beyond him lol." Fiasco said, "You should not use words like "faggot" it's derogatory and unacceptable @MRDIZASTER no room for homophobia in hip hop. Even though I don't agree with your logic regarding "clowning" people who are different than you @MRDIZASTER I'm glad u see your own faults. I don't see how making fun of somebody becuz they are different physically or mentally can come from a constructive standpoint @MRDIZASTER. Even atheists have respect for others @MRDIZASTER so again while I'm hopeful you will grow your logic at this point is dangerously flawed." Dizaster replied, "Fuck a battle i wanna have a live debate with @LupeFiasco about life in general , if he lets his guard down he might learn somethin new." Fiasco said, "I don't know..."paradise" is not guaranteed for anyone in anyway of life. @MRDIZASTER" while Dizaster replied to a directed tweet, ""@LupeFiasco: And @lamkingLos is a better lyricist than you so is @AYEVERB ..." Lol i killed him and id kill both u and los same time."
Fiasco also created a freestyle:
He SKIRT around the issues, he SKIRT when I'm around
Cause his worst don't work when I'm around
At worst he a round from a pistol around a missile
A pack of peppers around a pound of pickles
A pound around a soundless nickel around town soft as down
And wouldn't put sound through a whistle
A clown that I would to love see wear a crown of sickles
Who comes out to the sound of crickets
And buys his own tickets to his rounds to diss you
You hear the distant sound of different styles of life you wish you Had but too bad, you had the chance
But now you can't even get an ass to kiss you?
The issue is you fight on the wrong side of the tissue
You supposed to be the shit, not try and shit on THE shit
And sit on the wrong side of da pistol
I'd really like to stick you with the drawing side of a pencil
Or stab chisels right into the side of ya mental
That makes them boring rhymes you into
Some of the homies is gay
Maybe we can all get together and make you a closet
Go to Home Depot this weekend
You know really make it a project
Diz, I would love to get you in da ring and make you a hobbit
But you ain't even religious
So why would I put these crosses on you just make you a profit?Balfour, Jay (June 11, 2014). "Lupe Fiasco, Dizaster Diss Each Other on Twitter". HipHopDX.
== 2013: "N.E.R.D." ==
On December 12, 2013, Fiasco published the song "N.E.R.D." to SoundCloud, which received controversy for its anti-Semitic lyric, 'Artists getting robbed for their publishing / By dirty Jewish execs who think that it's alms from the covenant.' The Anti-Defamation League (ADL)'s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt expressed disproval, "It is irresponsible for a recording artist to perpetuate the hateful anti-Semitic stereotype of the 'greedy Jew.' Even if Lupe Fiasco has concerns about exploitation of his artistic output, it's deplorable to stigmatize an entire group in response. Fiasco has a well-earned reputation as a highly respected hip-hop artist. At a time when there are significant divisions across the country, we are disappointed that he has not chosen to use his platform and voice to promote a more inclusive message."
Fiasco defended himself through a series of tweets the same day. The following day on December 13, he tweeted that SoundCloud took down the song because of hate speech, though a spokesperson for SoundCloud informed Rolling Stone, "We can confirm that Lupe Fiasco's track 'N.E.R.D' has not been removed." Fiasco also announced his retirement from music: "I get the hint God. Yo Lupe fans it's been fun and I hope you've had fun. I'm officially not releasing anymore music. Albums cancelled." He made his Twitter account private for a short period, along with directly responding to Greenblatt, "I didn't called them dirty becuz they were Jewish I called them dirty becuz their [sic] horrible fucking human beings."Reed, Ryan (December 14, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco Lyrics Deemed 'Anti-Semitic' by Anti-Defamation League". Rolling Stone.
== 2013: Beyoncé ==
Fiasco never actually had beef with Beyoncé, and it turned out to be a misunderstanding on Twitter. On December 13, 2013, Beyoncé released her self-titled fifth studio album. It appeared that Fiasco said, "Beyoncé isn’t the only one dropping an album today." The BeyHive did not respond kindly, and began to bash the Chicagoan.Kyles, Yohance (December 13, 2013). "Hip-Hop Rumors: Beyoncé Fans Bash Lupe Fiasco on Twitter". AllHipHop. Fiasco stated in confusion, "Why are people saying I tweeted something about Beyonce??? I didn't tweet about Beyonce..." and "I like how this fake Beyonce tweet is gonna make headlines...it's kinda disgusting but shows how hard the Lupe hate is....thinking...""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. December 13, 2013. He noted on December 24, 2013, "The fact that that fake Beyonce tweet is still being taken as something that actually happened lets me know that..well nothing at all really.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. December 24, 2013. On Sway in the Morning, he explained, "some guy created a tweet that made it look like I tweeted" and said it "changed the way [he] operated." No one apologized for it, though the person who posted it did send a DM apology."Lupe Fiasco: "I Did Not Perform at the Inauguration" & Depression "That Never Goes Away"". YouTube. June 5, 2014.
On November 30, 2021, the person 'NoMercy' posted a YouTube video, confessing to doing the tweet and providing the backstory. He thought it would be a harmless joke, thinking it would be cool if rappers also dropped surprise albums. He immediately thought of Lupe, though because the rapper's Twitter page was private, no one could tell it was fake. The tweet went viral, and Fiasco guessed it to be 'nomercyharlem'. Fiasco followed him, and he immediately apologized, not expecting so much hate directed at Fiasco."Beyoncé Fans Attack Lupe Fiasco and Lupe Addresses No Mercy on Sway in the Morning". YouTube. November 30, 2021. Fiasco had shared the DM and commented, "Here's the apology from @NoMercyHarlem the "culprit" behind the hoax...all is good...fall back B fans...""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. December 13, 2013.
== 2014: Defending Iggy Azalea ==
In 2014, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea was being accused of appropriating Black culture for her music and image. On December 20, 2014, Fiasco said she has a "space" in hip-hop. This resulted in online backlash to which he tweeted on December 22 at particular fans, "Bitch I don't give two shits about you or your extra basic ass ideas about whatever basic ass half cooked Afro-centric head games u got," and "Now that the same system I tried to tell you pussy n*ggas was alive and well years ago got boot in that ass you n*ggaz is MLKJR???? FOH. And I'm Uncle Tom cuz some I told some white bitch that her pussy popping songs had a place in HipHop??? You outta yo fucking mind. You don't like me being around defending yall fool asses? Trust me bitch I don't like being around you either but that's too fucking bad."Gee, Andre (September 26, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Eschews Label Drama and Controversy for Ambitious 'Drogas Wave'". Vibe.Fleischer, Adam (December 23, 2014). "Lupe Fiasco Defends Iggy Azalea, Then Defends Himself for Defending Her". MTV News.
Azalea had responded, "Thanks lupe and will iam what you guys said was really nice and i appreciate it. i find it patronizing to assume i have no knowledge of something I'm influenced by, but I've also grown up with strangers assuming that…its completely fine and I'm used to it by now. i don't lose any sleep over it."Walker, John (December 22, 2014). "Iggy Azalea Won't 'Lose Any Sleep' Over Azealia Banks' Criticisms". MTV News.
== 2014: Beef with Azealia Banks and Kid Cudi ==
On August 20, 2014, Fiasco announced to fans of selling a personalized verse for $500."Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. August 20, 2014. Kid Cudi questioned this price and asked if the money was going towards charity, accusing him of swindling his fans."Kid Cudi (@KiDCuDi)". Twitter. August 21, 2014. This led to Fiasco bringing up the pricey cost of Cudi's Guiseppe Zanottis high-top shoes.
On January 10, 2015, Kendrick Lamar remarked upon the murder of Michael Brown, "I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it's already a situation, mentally, where it's fucked up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should've never happened. Never. But when we don't have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don't start with just a rally, don't start from looting—it starts from within." Fiasco supported Lamar with the hashtag #BeMoreLikeKendrickLamar, and Azealia Banks, who didn't think Fiasco's opinion was relevant, retorted, "@LupeFiasco, you still haven't made a decent song since I was 17." In response, Lupe brought up an old tweet where Banks praised, "i used to steal so many Lupe Fiasco flows when i first started rapping haha. I love him!!" and accompanied them with memes expressing his confusion.
Kid Cudi directed a subliminal tweet towards K-Dot's words, "Dear Black artists, don't talk down on the Black community like you are God's gift to n*ggaz everywhere. If you wanna help, inspire, uplift, don't point the blame and talk down." Lupe responded, "Shut Up… FOH @Kid Cudi. How about you stop shitting on the people who really cared about your well being when this biz was ripping you apart. Fake ass @KidCudi." Cudi replied without directing Lupe, "Uh oh we got em mad!!! Hahaha. My comments come from a place of love. Sorry if I offended anyone, except Poopé Fiasco. Fuck that n*ggaz feelings haha dweeb." Fiasco replied, without directing Cudi, "N*ggaz be invalid because they don't really mean what they say. I hate n*ggaz that are disloyal at they core then flex like they Gandhi FOH." He explained his comments to a confused fan, "Cudi called me "swindler" a few months back. I was flabbergasted And I been privately trying to catch this bitch n*gga since then @SDeniseT. And I just find it absurd that a hypocritical backstabbing ass n*gga like him is tryin 2 tell otha artists how 2 carry themselves."Meara, Paul (January 10, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi & Azealia Banks Spar Over Twitter". HipHopDX.Robertson, Iyana (January 11, 2015). "Kid Cudi Reacts to Kendrick Lamar's Ferguson Views: 'Don't Talk Down on the Black Community'". Vibe. Fiasco explained this situation over Sway in the Morning:
I met Cudi when he worked at the BAPE store […] He was a good dude, I loved his music and y'know, I just got a love for the dude. And I know that certain people, when they get fame really quick, it'll tear you apart, it'll fuck you up. And it's good to kind of have people—even if we not, we not gonna eat dinner together every night or do no shit like that, but I genuinely fuck with you, I'm a real n*gga and when I fuck with you, I fuck with you. So we cool. Maybe a year ago I told my fans like, 'Yo, if you want a Lupe verse, I'll write it for you for $500. It'll be yours; you can't put it on Twitter—it's yours. Don't leak the shit or do whatever; it's yours.' And Cudi went on Twitter and was like, 'Yo, Lupe, what you gonna do with that money?' I'm like, 'N*gga, it's $500, the fuck you talking about?' I'm thinking he joking. I'm like, 'Bro, what you mean?' … He stopped tweeting at me—then I caught wind of all these Cudi fans like, 'Fuck Lupe.' And I look at what this n*gga wrote and he's like 'Lupe's trying to swindle his fans, I would never do my fans like that.'"Lupe Fiasco's Last Interview: Opens Up About New & Best Album, Kid Cudi & President Obama". YouTube. January 22, 2015.Fleischer, Adam (January 23, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco to Kid Cudi: 'Talk to Me, Before I F--k You Up'". MTV News.
During a Milwaukee show on November 29, 2015, Fiasco created a freestyle that dissed Cudi. It included the lyrics, 'Make sure that you listen to every rhythm that I be spittin', unconditionally written / P.S.: To all my enemies, you are now forgiven / Except Kid Cudi, 'cause that's not my muthafuckin' buddy / If I see him in the streets, it's getting' muthafuckin' ugly / Now I know you might be a fan / Me and him share similar shit and you like, 'Damn!' / But that don't matter, they gonna be back into the chatter.' At the same show, he also announced, "I'mma let that shit with fuckin' Cudi go. I want you to let go of a grudge, let go of something that's hanging over your head, yeah? Don't terrorize yourself thinking about what you wanna do or what somebody has done to you... We got too much bullshit going on on this planet right now to have animosity in our personal spaces, right? Don't let that shit feed into you, let that shit go."Mansell, Henry (November 30, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco Slams Kid Cudi: "If I See Him in the Streets It's Getting Ugly"". HipHopDX. On Twitter, he commented, "I had a moment…I let it go tho…he still a fucking sucka in my opinion…"Smith, Trevor (November 29, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco Threatens Kid Cudi, Says He's Done with the Beef at the Same Show". HotNewHipHop. The following day he said, "At the end of that Milwaukee freestyle I let tha Cudi shit go. He still a bitch in my book. But Im done wit it #promise.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. November 30, 2015.
When Drake took shots at Cudi on a new song, "Two Birds, One Stone," Cudi tweeted on October 28, 2016, "Say it to my face, pussy." Fiasco declared that Cudi was a "disrespectful clown" and "that dude FOUL and needs his ass beat." He continued, "Man fuck that n*gga.. what part of "rehab" is calling people pussies and asking for fades?! Rehab is checking your own problems not this shit." He added that it was "childish" and "petty" to comment given Cudi's state, but Cudi "deserves all of it & more."Hernandez, Victoria (October 28, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco Shits on Kid Cudi's Drake Diss from Rehab". HipHopDX.Yoo, Noah (October 29, 2016). "Lupe Fiasco: "Fuck Kid Cudi, That Dude Needs His Ass Beat"". Pitchfork. The same day Fiasco said in response to a user, "Cudi called me a thief then ducked for two years and counting when I tried to reach him PRIVATELY so he could explain his words to me.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. October 28, 2016.
In December 2018, when a fan asked for him to contact Kanye West due to West's controversy at the time, Fiasco responded, "I love Ye...however the only reason I'd talk to him is so that I could tell him to give Cudi the phone."Pimentel, Julia (April 25, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Responds to Fan Who Brought Up Kanye: 'Y'all Gotta Figure That Out'". Complex. Later that same year he stated, "since it's apology season and all @kanyewest Still waitin on that cudi apology...tell ya manz he need to holla at me.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. December 13, 2018.
In September 2021, when a fan asked Lupe if he would listen to Cudi's verse on Drake's Certified Lover Boy album, Fiasco replied, "Fuck Cudi 4 Life."Corbett, Kelly (March 30, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Reminds Us That He and Kid Cudi Are Still Not Cool: "F--k Cudi 4 Life"". Distractify.
With the incident of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock for the insensitive comment of his wife, who struggles with alopecia, Fiasco stated over Twitter on March 28, 2022, "I hope they can find some time to come to terms with what happened, reconcile, and move on... But it's still Fuck Cudi 4 Life." Followed up by this was clarification for a fan who wondered what Lupe said about Cudi, "He a Bitch...been a bitch...and he a snake ass no good ass n*gga...I said all that lol..." When another fan said that they thought the beef was in the past, Fiasco responded, "It is...I just have to remind myself and others from time to time."Woods, Aleia (March 28, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Calls Out Kid Cudi, Says He's 'Been a Bitch'". XXL. On December 24, 2022, when a fan wondered if their feud would be the next to end, Fiasco replied, "Never. Fuck him 4 life." He added, "Outside of his musical genius, fame and success. Cudi is a really sneaky punk bitch ass bitch…it's not even that controversial or spicy of a take. His personal resume outside the spotlight is trash."Saint-Louis, Tai (December 24, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Says He Will Never Squash Beef with 'Sneaky Punk Bitch' Kid Cudi". HipHopDX. He also said, when a fan remarked that Cudi gave off a "weird ass vibe," "You can confirm that…on me. But if you rock with his music etc that's cool…just know that Al Pacino ain't really Scarface and your parents are Santa Claus."Nevares, Gabriel (December 24, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Says "F**k Kid Cudi for Life"'. HotNewHipHop.</blockquote>
In an interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, published on January 18, 2024, Cudi shared: "I also had like this phobia that uh, rappers would come into the store and like see me working there and then have beef with me later and bring up the fact like 'n*gga you sold me clothes!' So like, I would always like hide in the stock room. […] Lupe Fiasco came to the store one day, he was in the store and I was in the back and they was like 'Lupe's here.' I was like 'oh shit,' stayed down in the stairs, waited until he left." He explained, "I was like 'Yo bro, if I get famous one day, right, I don't ever want this n*gga saying like, 'Yo you sold me clothes, you my son.' You know what I'm saying? We can't have it like—this was my explanation. And yo, bro, when you think about it, he hates me to this day. He hates me so it's like, it's like, I was right, I was on something. I sensed something in the universe.""Kid Cudi: 'Insano', Kendrick Lamar, Kaws & Fame". YouTube. January 18, 2024. Fiasco took to Twitter the next day on January 19th, to address, "Kid Cudi is a bitch. And continues to be a bitch. Ain't nobody finna bring up he used to work at the Bape Store to diss his bitch ass for having a regular job before he was a famous bitch with a cool job." When asked for the full story behind their conflict, he responded in a series of tweets since the personalized verse Twitter incident.Mahadevan, Tara (January 19, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Says Kid Cudi 'Continues to Be a B*tch' After He Shared Story About Hiding from Chicago Rapper". Complex. When someone explained that Cudi hid at the BAPE store in case of future beef with rappers, which happened to come true with Lupe, Lupe responded, "A beef he started with a n*gga who actually looked out for him? Make that make sense. Cudi a bitch."
Catching wind of the tweets, Cudi said, "Lupe love me yall dont get it twisted. He just hurt. He beefin w himself at this point. Holdin that much hate in ur heart for someone for so long holds u back in life bro. Thats the devil using u. Hope he finds some peace man. Now its just sad." This tweet was soon removed. He added in a quoted response to a fan, "Yea me too. I got love for him i never want to see him like this. If i need to give this n*gga a hug and tell him shutup and love me then thats what ill do," then directly at Lupe, "Love u g. Im sorry if i hurt u man. Life is too short. Hope u can find it in ur heart to get past this 🙏🏾💕 @LupeFiasco." When a fan suggested he was trolling, he responded that he was sincere. He added, "Just sent u a dm 🙏🏾 lets talk @LupeFiasco." When another person opined that he should stop bring up his name and let the negativity go, Cudi replied, "This is the first time I said anything in years and its an apology. Im confused by this tweet? 🤔."
Fiasco retweeted Cudi's message to him with "All I needed…"Lane, Lexi (January 19, 2024). "Kid Cudi and Lupe Fiasco Have Seemingly Made Amends, Hours After the Viral Bape Story Drama". Uproxx. Around 21 minutes after, he retracted, "On second thought homey this ain't ain't enough…you need to talk to me" and deleted his acceptance of the given apology. He noted, "I didn't get a DM from you. 🤷🏾‍♂️." Around an hour later, with seemingly no answer from Cudi, Fiasco retorted, "This lying ass bitch ass n*gga… Aight…" Approximately two hours later, Cudi said, "Hey brother, please refrain from callin me out my name. I come w love. Heres the dm i sent, u cant recieve messages. Just noticed. I have no reason to cap. Now if u wanna keep the same negative energy we cant speak. I have no room in my life for that. Im tryna move past this. Ima talk w u tomorrow w Ibn.""Kid Cudi (@KiDCuDi)". Twitter. January 19, 2024. An hour later, Lupe replied, "Or what bitch ass n*gga? You tryna to come years later with this peace shit, half apologize. N*gga you could have settled this years ago with a simple phone call. Now you ain't got the room after the due date. N*gga you will always be a bitch to me. I just want to hear that apology from your mouth then you can kick rocks. Every n*gga I know you know think you a bitch too. This ain't nothing new.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. January 19, 2024. He continued, "I thought him apologizing would help. But it didn't. Because I gave up on that happening years ago. So when he said it. I had a moment of release. Then when I looked at how he said. I felt that I still wanna beat his ass on sight." When a fan responded that he was "justified" for ten years of the dislike, he stated, I'm just keeping it a 💯…I thought I was better but I ain't. He let this shit linger too long then coming back with this Ghandi don't cuss in the church shit got me hot. Like bitch n*gga I don't fuck with you at all." When someone brought up Cudi's apology, which said the "devil" was using Lupe and how it's "just sad," he answered, "I saw this…I almost balled up my fucking phone…"Spencer, Tallie (January 20, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Doesn't Accept Kid Cudi's Apology: "I Thought Him Apologizing Would Help, But It Didn't"". HotNewHipHop. Fiasco's tweets were eventually deleted.
On January 20, 2024, Kid Cudi announced their resolution, tweeting, "Just talked to Lupe. Had a great talk. I know I was wrong and told him I shouldnt have did that fuck shit I did. I called myself lookin out for the fans in the moment, but in reality I was just hating. I apologized and he accepted it. Which I appreciated foreal. I understand the anger and vitriol he had for me all these years, and I wasnt mature enough to step up and just have a conversation and admit I was wrong. We as black men need to be united. He always had love for me. Always supported me. I shouldnt had did him like that. I wanna thank my guy IBN for settin the call up, and u, the fans, for being real w me and urging us to speak. We are good now, brand new journey. @LupeFiasco 🙏🏾❤️ see u soon brother 🙏🏾" Lupe returned, "Sincerely appreciate it my guy…🙏🏾…peace & blessings…" and added the hashtag "#INSANO," naming Cudi's ninth studio album released the previous week."Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. January 20, 2024. Cudi retweeted this with "🙏🏾❤️ my brother.""Kid Cudi (@KiDCuDi)". Twitter. January 20, 2024. The two followed each other on Twitter.
== 2014: Freddie Gibbs ==
On December 23, 2014, Fiasco posted photos of himself wearing a Ku Klux Klan outfit alongside a link to his #1234 video, which would be shown in the visual for "Audubon Ballroom," though some people took it out of context. Freddie Gibbs penned the next day on December 24, "Dear Lupe Fiasco, I always personally thought u were a bitch ass n*gga. This solidifies it" and "I agree with some of the positive things lupe says, but the way the n*gga try to prove a point is senseless and irresponsible." Fiasco remarked, "Its funny how n*ggas build they careers off the death of their own kind but when I put da real enemy in ur face its a problem @FreddieGibbs. If you took the time to watch the video and listen to the songs you would have seen what the scene from it meant @FreddieGibbs. I never been a bitch n*gga. EVER. From the streets to this rap shit. I try to uplift the n*ggaz out here really doing dirt @FreddieGibbs. I watched all my n*ggaz die or get locked up. It made me cold so I could two fucks about a n*ggaz feelings about how I chose to express mine. So again before u judge a n*gga off what you think is happening do yo research first @FreddieGibbs Here's the video http://t.co/9uhzB3ohAZ." Gibbs responded, "@LupeFiasco u know what bro, I was out of line for calling you out your name just cuz I don't agree with you. For that I apologize." Fiasco said, "All good...ain't shit...much success to you in your endeavors "6 wings with da mild sauce" #RNS @FreddieGibbs." Gibbs replied, "@LupeFiasco Fasho my n*gga."Thompson, Paul (December 25, 2014). "Lupe Fiasco and Freddie Gibbs Settle Their Differences". XXL.
== 2015: GrandeMarshall ==
On January 5, 2015, Fiasco shared his song "Adoration of the Magi," a promotional single from his album Tetsuo & Youth. A fan noted how the beat was the same as the song "Ellie Fox" by Philadelphia rapper GrandeMarshall, which was released in 2012. The next day on January 6, GrandeMarshall confirmed this, and joked, "Worry about n*ggas claiming Muslim faith and eating fried bologna." Fiasco didn't like this, and inquired them to sort things offline. GrandeMarshall turned this down, and had tweeted out subsequently: "@LupeFiasco ain't nobody sneak dissing I call it like I see it. @LupeFiasco you super paranoid you got millions of followers and I got to you because you know you a corn but it's whatever. now I dissed a n*gga for stating the truth I put a song two years ago with Dahi that you rapped on today plain and simple. if anybody feelings hurt that's wassap that's what the truth does it hurts stop frauding." Fiasco retorted, "Yeah ok...DM me a line...all this online shit for suckas... @GrandeMarshall. These Young rap/trap n*ggaz be in feelings a lil too much...." GrandeMarshall fired back, "@LupeFiasco it ain't shit to talk about holmes you rapped on some shit I rapped first I recognize it end of story. @LupeFiasco if your mad I called you out bout eating bologna you shouldn't have ate it I'm not the only one I just got the gawl to say it." Fiasco commented, "Hahaha on some funny shit...the shit come halal and in turkey..." and added, "PSA...No disrespect to my n*gga @djdahi I love him like a brother. BUT you gotta make all my beats from SCRATCH in front of me now on hahaha."Balfour, Jay (January 6, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco & GrandeMarshall Argue Over DJ Dahi Beat on Twitter". HipHopDX.
DJ Dahi himself addressed: "If you bought it, its yours. If you didn't its still belongs to me...." and "No funny Shit, I keep it 100." The Fader got in contact with GrandeMarshall, who explained, "As far as what [Dahi] explained to me it was something between his and Lupe's management. I respect the privacy of the conversation so I won't really go into detail. The beat was sent to me back in 2012 to a person closely involved with my music and we used it for 800, as far as what people tell me it was a pretty good song." He added, "I really wasn't looking to gain anything from the get-go. I guess the bologna comment might've touched a nerve or whatever—it is what it is. Fans, people, whatever, they're tweeting that it sounds the same or the same sample, I clarified it's the same beat and moved on...I'm not sweating somebody rapping on a beat of mine from 3 years ago when I'm preparing to release music that's grown far more than what these guys are going with."Fitzmaurice, Larry (January 6, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco and GrandeMarshall Clash Over DJ Dahi Beat and Bologna". The Fader.
== 2016: Street Fighter V Exhibition Match ==
On February 15, 2016, the Street Fighter V exhibition match between Fiasco and Daigo Umehara was held, where Fiasco won in 3-2 using Ken. Spectators believed the tournament was staged, though this was denied. Umehara stated, "Given that Lupe is such a wildly talented artist, it shouldn't be surprising that he came to play against me last night. I would like to congratulate him on his victory last night, but let's say that you can eagerly await a rematch. The crowd warmly welcomed us and was so excited. I thought it was a great run."Ashcraft, Brian (February 16, 2016). "The Theory That the Lupe vs. Daigo Fight Was Staged [Update"]. Kotaku. Fiasco himself addressed, "Just to be clear. I actually take opportunities like this seriously. I trained very hard for the Daigo match just for peeps to call it fixed.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. June 30, 2016.
== 2018: Critique of Black Panther ==
With the release of Marvel's Black Panther that met with widespread commercial and critical success, Fiasco was less impressed though awarded the film an A-. He said in an Instagram livestream, "So [Black Panther] still falls into that category of just being like an OK film. I don't think that the acting was super amazing, but for various reasons. One, I don't think we're used to seeing Black people on screen that much, so when we do see a movie that's all Black folks—for me, specifically—there's a bias."Alexis, Diamond (March 21, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco's 'Black Panther' Review Won't Sit Well with Some People". BET. This met with displeasure from a writer of The Grio, who penned, "Watching Lupe Fiasco trash 'Black Panther' proves his cookout invite is revoked." Fiasco replied, "Explain to us the correlation between giving BP an A- & failing black as a whole? And why doesn't the black media just come out and say we don't like Lupe fiasco because he called Obama a terrorist instead of doing all these logic gymnastics?" He added of the reasoning behind his critique, "I think it's levels of quality to the marvel formula as well mostly balanced on the casting decisions which is one of the factors that i think BP had to work through and suffers for."Elder, Sajae (March 23, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Isn't Here for Criticisms on His 'Black Panther' Movie Review". Complex.
== 2021: Fallout with Royce da 5'9" ==
On July 15, 2021, rappers Fiasco, Royce da 5'9", Young Guru, Mickey Factz, Loaded Lux and Murda Mookk discussed of rap battling. Mook and Lux wondered who would win between Royce and Lu, resulting in Lupe saying he wasn't interested in battling. Eventually Royce replied, "Get in the motherfucking ring then bitch if you got a motherfucking problem. Who you think you fucking talking to, n*gga? You playing too much. Take some of that bass out your voice." This caused Fiasco to leave the livestream and do a 15-minute freestyle over his own Instagram live, taking shots at Royce.
On July 22, Royce published the diss track "Silence of the Lambda;" hours later on the same day, Lupe responded using the same beat as "Lambda," entitled "Steve Jobs: SLR 3 1/2." After their diss tracks, Royce took to Twitter: "I won't attack Lu personally. I'm a real one with control of my emotions though desperate times call for desperate measures.. You gotta talk reckless when you know you can't check all them boxes Tried to tell him, I'm different."Singh, Ashish (July 22, 2021). "Beef Alert: Why Did Royce Da 5'9" and Lupe Fiasco Diss Each Other? Fans Hope It Stays Friendly". MEAWW. Over an Instagram livestream the same day, Royce said that Lupe "can get everything he's lookin' for if he wasn't so angry" and added, "I can't write no whole record disparaging Lupe, I don't have those kind of feelings for him in my heart. […] A lot of people sayin' it's healthy competition, but is it healthy for him?"Gee, Andre (July 29, 2021). "What's Really Going on Between Lupe Fiasco and Royce Da 5'9"?". Complex.
The next day on July 23, Lupe announced that their podcast, The Lupe and Royce Show, was over due to it "becom[ing] an untenable situation." He elaborated, "It's not something that my heart was 100 percent in the podcast, and I think we just reached the state now where it's an untenable relationship, so I appreciate the last episode went up today. I think sometimes it's good to just go out on top. It's not something that's done out of ill will. This is something that's kind of been building for a little bit. And again, my heart wasn't 100 percent in the podcast with Royce, without Royce, by myself on my own."Moore, Evan (July 26, 2021). "After Highly Publicized Diss Records, Lupe Fiasco and Royce Da 5'9" Joint Podcast Ends". Chicago Sun-Times.
On July 28, Fiasco said on an Instagram livestream that he and Royce were no longer friends. He believed that there were lines crossed in Royce's diss, particularly for threat of violence. Royce lamented the same day, "I love to rap, but I don't love drama" and added that there could've been a "right way" where "there wouldn't have been no feelings if everybody would've been intentional with making sure that we're clear on how everybody feel."
Royce told The Breakfast Club about calling Lupe a "bitch," "I don't feel good about it. I think I would regret it if he had apologized, then I definitely would apologize, and then it would go down as a regret. But as of right now, like the way that everything got kinda summed up, it is what it is, but I don't feel good about it."Walker, Joe (August 10, 2022). "Royce da 5'9" Admits He 'Doesn't Feel Good' About Calling Lupe Fiasco a 'Bitch'". HipHopDX.
== 2023: Vaccine Debate with Chris Webby ==
On January 11, 2023, he and Chris Webby argued on their different stances of the vaccine. Fiasco, a supporter of the vaccine, tweeted, "I'm no longer responding to people regarding vaccines, bill gates, 'THEY's', conspiracy theories or the government with people with less than 200,000 Followers." Webby replied, "Sore loser to boot eh? And deleting your tweets after previously mocking others for deleting theirs because you, and I quote, 'destroyed their points' .. To imagine you used to be this guy" with a screenshot of a Genius annotation of "Words I Never Said," which criticized the U.S. government and challenged status quo. Fiasco requested for a debate, and Webby accepted, which was held later that night on Twitter Spaces.Walker, Joe (January 12, 2023). "Lupe Fiasco & Chris Webby Clash Over Covid Vaccine in Heated Debate". HipHopDX.
== References ==
Controversies
Category:Lupe Fiasco