Hip-Hop Saved My Life

"Hip-Hop Saved My Life" is the second single and ninth track from Lupe Fiasco's sophomore studio album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool (2008). The track features guest vocals from Nikki Jean, who at the time was lead singer of Nouveau Riche.
Lyrics tell the story of an underground rapper who tries to achieve success as an artist. The song is dedicated to Bun B and largely based on the career of Houston rapper Slim Thug.
== Background ==
In an interview, Slim Thug told MTV News, "My DJ first heard the record when Lupe's album came out. I went on iTunes and bought it and was surprised it had a lot to do about me. I don't think it's entirely about me, but he took pieces of my hustle and put it in the song […] When he came to shoot the video, I got the call from Dr. Teeth, who directed it, and I was down. I brought some of my cars, you know, with the candy paint, and we did it."Rodriguez, Jayson (April 10, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco's Latest Single, 'Hip-Hop Saved My Life,' Honors Southern Rap Heroes Bun B, Slim Thug". MTV News.Ketchum III, William E. (April 12, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco Talks "Hip Hop Saved My Life"". HipHopDX. Years later, in a statement to HipHopDX, he said, "It was crazy to hear that it was about me, inspired by me. It was amazing. It was a dope moment in hip-hop for me.""Slim Thug Didn't Know Lupe Fiasco's "Hip Hop Saved My Life" Was About Him at First". YouTube. July 4, 2022.
Fiasco confirmed, "I was with him when we shot the video, and he was like, 'Yo, is this song about me?' It is based on Slim Thug… I didn't know at the time, but there was a situation in Houston where they were trying to figure out who the song was about. Was it about Slim Thug? Was it about Chamillionaire? And it was about Slim Thug, but [then] I dedicated the song to Bun. I called him up and said, 'Yo, Bun, I've got a song for you, check it out,' and he was the first person to hear it. I sent it to him and he was like, 'Yo, it's all good.'"
As for the collaboration with Nikki Jean, record producer duo Chris & Drop reached out after hearing her music and introduced her to Fiasco. Fiasco contacted her, where she was featured on "Hip-Hop Saved My Life," also writing the hook."Who Is Nikki Jean? 8 Things to Know About Lupe's Secret Weapon". WatchLOUD. March 10, 2015. When asked about the inspiration behind it, she replied, "Lupe! He gave me the track and said I want to write the song about this. Write the hook." She continued, "He had the whole story of the song mapped out before I even wrote the hook. He was like, here's the track, here's the concept, write the hook, and that was it. You gotta give him what he wants.""Exclusive Interview with Nikki Jean (Part 2)". nikkijeanlive.blogspot.com. March 1, 2009.
== Music video ==
The official music video premiered to YouTube in 2008, directed by Dr. Teeth. It features DJ B-Do as the male lead, his acting debut,"DJ B-Do (@djbdo)". Twitter. August 20, 2009. and cameos from Slim Thug, Willie D, Nikki Jean, K-Rino, Paul Wall, and Bun B. In one scene towards the beginning of the video, a clip from the video for "Superstar" can briefly be seen playing on a television set. The video also contains the clean version of the song, censoring the words "ass" and "selling crack".
== Personnel ==
Song
* Greg "G-Ball" Magers – recording
* Jesse Gladstone – assistant mixer
* Nat "You Can Ask Giz" Robinson – mixer
* Nicholle "Nikki Jean" Leary – featured vocals, writer
* Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – writer, producer
* Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – lead vocals, writer
Video
* John Tucker – executive producer
* Dr. Teeth – director
* Keith Paschell – producer
* Ron Finburg – producer
* Khamisi Norwood – cinematographer
* Judd Flemming – editor
* Adam Amaya – visual effects
* Directors Cutt Media – production company
* Bradley "DJ B-Do" Davis – male lead
== Cultural references ==
* Minute Maid is an American product line of beverages, commonly associated with orange juice.
* The Mead Corporation is one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper.
* BiC is a French manufacturing corporation founded in 1945 by Marcel Bich.
* Pampers is an American brand of baby/toddler products.
* Myspace is a social networking service founded in 2003.
* D-boy is slang for drug dealer and B-boy is a young male involved with hip hop culture.
* The Last Dragon (1985) centers on martial arts student Bruce Leroy, who has dreams to achieve "The Glow"; the final level in martial arts.
* The Galleria is a shopping mall in Houston, Texas.
== Lyrics ==
== References ==
== External links ==
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Category:2008 songs
Category:Collaboration songs
Category:Explicit songs
Category:Lupe Fiasco songs
Category:Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
Category:Singles
Category:Songs
Category:Songs with music videos