Grantland

Grantland was a sports and pop-culture blog owned and operated by ESPN from 2011 to 2015. Journalist Thomas Golianopoulos conducted an interview with Brian "Busy" Dackowski, the VP of Marketing for Atlantic Records, to discuss Lupe Fiasco's album Tetsuo & Youth. He also briefly talked to record producer MoeZ'art, who told them on the theory of T&Y meant to be played in reverse, "I'm not sure about that one. He has so many different layers to him. I can't even begin to understand some of the things. I'm still digesting the album myself."Golianopoulos, Thomas (April 28, 2015). "Messiah Music: Investigating the Hidden Meaning of Lupe Fiasco's 'Tetsuo & Youth'". Grantland.
== Article ==
What was Lupe going for as far as a theme or story on the album?
I don't think that was ever the purpose of there being, like, one overall theme sort of like the way The Cool had. There was no structure like he wanted to tell a particular story. I think each song has its own story and message.
Have you heard the theory about playing the album in reverse order?
Yes, I did read that.
Is there any truth to it?
Not that I'm aware of, no. That's very interesting. The songs were definitely grouped together based upon how they sound — that's why it was structured the way it was between "Spring," "Fall, "Summer, "Winter." He definitely took time in sequencing this thing. Either way, I see how people can feel that. I don't think that was a conscious decision on his part. But he doesn't really tell me everything.
People on the message boards point to the DJ Skee interview when Lupe held the album upside down and ran his finger up and down the track list.
He's no stranger to the message boards, either, so he definitely will play with that one when given the chance. He definitely reads a lot of them. He scans the web from time to time.
He loves the message boards?
He absolutely loves it. That's why he'll never go on a Rap Genius and want to explain his lyrics. He loves to just leave it open and let people go crazy in terms of them thinking what this means or that. It started in the early days with him when people thought "Kick, Push" was about drug dealing instead of skateboarding.
Is there any overlap between Tetsuo & Youth and The Cool?
Not that I know specifically. The character of The Cool is definitely on his mind right now, and has been for the last year. I would not be surprised if that pops its head up again pretty soon.
== References ==
Category:2015 interviews
Category:Websites