Fiascogate

**Fiascogate** was the word used to describe the incident during October 2007 at VH1's Hip Hop Honors, where American rapper Lupe Fiasco was not familiar with A Tribe Called Quest lyrics. The specific songs were "Electric Relaxation" and "Scenario." When the media reported this, Fiasco responded on an Okayplayer thread that he didn't grow up listening to ATCQ. He admitted that he hadn't listened to *Midnight Marauders* in its entirety, and when he was offered to do a tribute, he initially turned it down but Q-Tip wanted him to.

The name itself refers to the Watergate scandal, regarding the Clinton presidential administration. The suffix '-gate' to this day is used to describe scandals.

## Background

On October 6, Fiasco told *HipHopDX* from the "Superstar" video shoot, "The label brought the idea to me and I told them that I didn't think it was cool because I didn't grow up on them. People are going to think that's phony. I think people who know that I haven't listened to the *Midnight Marauders* album are going to look at me and say it's phony. They gave me mad press kits on Tribe and I was like, 'I know who they are!' But now this was becoming [even more] phony because I had to beef up and play a role [pretending] that I know them. Just for the sake of putting on a facade for my fans? I'll never do that."

The next day, on October 7, he was criticized by Tribe fans via messageboards.

Phonte of Little Brother hopped in on Okayplayer to state:

>
> I purposely remained silent during Fiascogate just to see how it all would play out and to see how my man would gain control of the situation, but with you forgetting the lyrics to a classic song from a classic group on national television while paying tribute to them, the 2nd plane has officially hit the tower.
>
>
> You're my homeboy and a colleague that I hold in high regard. I'm a fan of your work. Even more so, we've chopped it up on numerous occasions so you know that everything I say is coming from a place of respect and concern. [Regarding your comments about growing up on gangsta rap], that's fine, but your music and more importantly your image leans more towards Native Tongues than killaman-killaman-saykillamankillaman-wit me glock. If it walks and talks like a duck, most people would call it one. You can't blame [Okayplayers] or anybody else for putting you inside a box that you were willing to sit comfortably in and benefit from.
>
>
> [...]
>
>
> More than anything, it seems to me that Tip knew you were one of the only available celebrities that would translate to VH1's audience and do his legacy justice. ... You and Pharrell are the only celebrities who are (seemingly?) cut from Tribe's cloth and would make sense in the context of the show.
>
>
> Normally cats would be forgiving of a slip-up, but when that slip-up was preceded by several months of bragging about how 'I've never heard the album and really don't care to,' well ... you do the math.
>
>
> Just some words of concern, fam.
>
>
> Best of luck with 'The Cool' and I hope the remix comes out dope.
>
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> Your Homie, Peer, and Fan,
>
>
> Tigallo
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>

On October 9, Q-Tip mentioned to HOT 97 that he didn't personally reach out to Lupe, but rather was given a list of rapper names for the tribute and selected several. He added, "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 other 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." He elaborated to *HipHopDX* that he didn't have any "beef" with Fiasco, and continued, "[I was] told that Lupe had some problems with the lyrics. So then I went to his trailer, just trying to extend myself, and I was like, 'So I understand that you never heard a Tribe Called Quest joint?' He smiled and said, 'Well that's not true. My sister used to listen to it. I didn't really [listen to it], but my sister had the album with all the faces on it.'" Q-Tip added, "I applaud him for his honesty. But I will say that Spice 1 and Geto Boys were making records at the same time we was. And when we used to do shows with them, Spice 1 and all those dudes would be knowing Tribe lyrics, and vice versa. So contrary to I guess maybe somebody like Lupe, people listen to other types of music. People don't say I have no interest in listening to different types of music. But that's his opinion and he's entitled to it." In regards to reaching out after the performance, he said, "I called him and I said, 'You know, I just wanted to speak to you man-to-man so you know that I don't have no beef with you.' And he was like, 'They attacking me.' He explained himself to me, and I listened. We spoke about doing a tour together actually."

On October 10, Fiasco declared that he'd be suing *Vibe* for defamation of character, as his comments regarding *Midnight Marauders* was quoted from an interview a month ago, and not after the Hip Hop Honors event. The magazine updated to confirm this.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rodriguez, Jayson (October 11, 2007). "Lupe Fiasco Vs. A Tribe Called Quest: A 'Fiascogate' Timeline". *MTV*.
2. ↑ "Why Is Every Scandal Called a -Gate?". *BBC*. August 2020.
3. ↑ "\*Update\* Lupe Fiasco Clears the Air on Hip Hop Honors". *HipHopDX*. October 6, 2007.
4. ↑ Arnold, Paul (October 10, 2007). "DX-Clusive: "Fiascogate Fallout" & Words from Q-Tip". *HipHopDX*.