SNDCLSH in Vegas

## Song by Lupe Fiasco

"**SNDCLSH in Vegas**" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as the tenth track from his mixtape, *Friend of the People: I Fight Evil* (2011). It samples the 2010 song "Lick It" by Kaskade and Skrillex.

## Critical reception

*Consequence* critiqued, "poor choice of rapping over a Skrillex song".

## Cultural references

* Barack Obama was the 44th president of the United States from 2009-2017.
* Fiasco appeared on Fox News' *The O'Reilly Factor* in June 2011, where he defended his comments of the president, calling Obama a "terrorist".
* Occupy Wall Street was a movement in 2011, protesting economic equality.
* Howard Zinn (August 24, 1922 – January 27, 2010) was an American social activist, historian, and author. His life's work focused on a wide range of issues including racial and class divide, oppression, and war. His work, *The Bomb*, is cited as an inspiration for Fiasco's 2012 album *Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1*.
* Diane Rehms is an American journalist and the host of *Diane Rehm: On My Mind* podcast. She won the 2009 Personal Peabody Award for her political talk show, *The Diane Rehm Show*, which they cited as "thoughtful, civil discourse about public affairs".
* Kai Ryssdal is an American radio journalist and the host of *Marketplace*, a business radio program.
* Amy Goodman is an American broadcast journalist, syndicated columnist, investigative reporter, and author. She is the main host of *Democracy Now!*, a progressive global news program.
* Jerry Sandusky is an American convicted serial child molester and retired college football coach. He was the former Penn State Assistant Coach, charged with 52 counts of sexual abuse of young boys.
* Chuck D is the leader and frontman of hip hop group Public Enemy, who helped pioneer politically and socially conscious rap in the 1980s.
* Ryan "Kaskade" Raddon is an American DJ and record producer.
* Tupac "2Pac" Shakur was an American rapper, widely credited as an important figure in hip hop culture.
* Sky Gellatly is 1/2 of the DJ duo, SNDCLSH, with Lupe.
* Lorin "Bassnectar" Ashton is credited as the producer on the track, "Lightwork". Fiasco also performed at his musical event, Bass Island, at Governors Island.
* *Don't Drop the Flag* is SNDCLSH's forthcoming debut extended play (EP).
* Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacture. Ferraris are best known for their speed, expense, and strong brand.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

Let's go, hah

It's some fresh new Vans on my fresh new plans

Obama lied to you you n\*\*\*a no you can't, ha

Change these nuts, shout to Fox News tryin' ta change me up

Sorry Uncle Rush but I still don't vote

'Cause n\*\*\*as on the ballot and there's still no hope

So I'm back in the hood, Englewood to Inglewood

Doin' work that politician should, good

Blocks do they best tryin' to break my heart

Just tryin' to make you smart when I make my art

Occupy forever, more tents to the park

Howard Zinn gettin' spins in the Benz

If it's not him, it' NPR, Diane Rehms

Kai Ryssdal, Amy Goodman

Sorry Bill O'Reilly but I'm so involved

Can you ask Limbaugh to return my calls

[Verse 2]

Yeah, Atlantic on the fritz

'Cause I might not step foot back in that bitch

It disgusts me like Jerry Sandusky

Goodness gracious pedophiles and rapists, in high places

Not to mention slavery and slave ships

Come on Lu, gon' and keep it out the past

Tell Jerry's cellmate try and keep it out his ass

What happened to the class? All the low blows

I guess that most of the kids who black from the choke holds

As long as y'all win you can still put it in

Yup, hip hop back with a vengeance

Spirit of Chuck D with a whole lot of interest

Just inches from the entrance

Not to knock nice, but to knock it off the hinges, huh

[Break]

I'm just playin', I'm just playin'

You know I like y'all

Well, some of y'all

But you know who I'm talking to, I rock with y'all

You know we do it big

Atlantic Records First and Fifteenth all day

Yeah, let's go

[Verse 3]

SNDCLSH in Vegas, only dropping those new Kaskade hits

Let's see how crazy the rave gets

Might play my 2Pac favorites

Me and Sky back in the Labs

Q came through with beats by the back

Shout to Bassnec, count all that cash

Whatever you do, don't drop that flag

Watch is stll gold, chain is still gold

Feelin' brand new, Ferrari still old

Got the dreads cause Marley still cold

GTR my car be real slow

Nah my car be real close

To the speed of the light when I be on roads

Flow like I be on 'roids and I be on ten when I be on tour

## References

1. ↑ Young, Alex (December 8, 2011). "Album Review: Lupe Fiasco – Friend of the People Mixtape'. *Consequence*.
2. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (June 21, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Argues on 'O'Reilly Factor,' Defends Calling Obama a 'Terrorist'". *Billboard*.
3. ↑ "Personal Award: Diane Rehm"