Greedmont Park

***Greedmont Park*** is a pop culture magazine, founded in 2008 by the rap duo Mach Five. They interviewed American rapper Lupe Fiasco, who was featured on the cover of their 2011 Summer issue.

## Excerpt

As March 8th rapidly approaches, Lupe Fiasco prepares for the release of his long awaited album, *Lasers*. While on a promotional tour, he stopped by Clark Atlanta University to give deeper insight into his new project. What many expected to be a small listening session and concert turned out to be a discussion/interview on issues around the world as well as in the black community, through the eyes of Lupe Fiasco, and how, as a Hip-Hop artist, he's pushing listeners to become active. Bordering the lines of a revolutionary bard and mainstream artist, Lupe Fiasco introduces the L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto.

The direction of the discussion was mostly due to the research and moderation of Dr. Jocelyn Wilson, a professor at Morehouse College. I've known Dr. Wilson for almost a year now. When I first met her she broke down the evidence of Knowledge of Self and virtues of Ma'at in Kid Cudi's debut album. When she asked me to accompany her on this interview with Lupe, I had an idea where the discussion was going.

Before listening to any music, we jumped right into the origin of his manifesto. Lupe explained how in between his last album and his new release, he had gone through the normal music industry bullshit, as well as personal problems. He battled with depression, thoughts of suicide, and insanity. He spent time working with and listening to different punk rock bands and was inspired by the message of classic punk bands to make his new project more than just another album. Coming out of depression, he took Black Panther Party Manifesto and formed his own. Starting with the title of his album, an acronym meaning: Love Always Shines Every time Remember to Smile. It started out as a way for Lupe to cope with his issues, reminding himself to smile. The L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto reads:

> "To every man, woman, and child: We want an end to the glamorization of negativity in the media. We want an end to status symbols dictating our worth as individuals. We want a meaning and universal education system. We want not compromise who we are to be accepted by the crowd. We want the invisible walls that separate by wealth, race and class to be torn down. We want to think our own thoughts. We will be responsible for our environment. We want clarity and truth from our elected officials or they should move aside… We will not lose because we are not losers, we are lasers… Lasers are revolutionary. Lasers are the future."
>
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In explaining the points in his manifesto, the first thing he pointed out was the importance of education and knowledge. He started by admitting he barely finished high school and never had attentions on going to college. But the form of education he spoke about was the same kind Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Dead Prez and Wu-Tang Clan spoke about early in their careers. He gave insight into how you can use Hip Hop intellectually and revolutionary. "School for some, education for everybody" was the motto he used to explain why forcing knowledge onto students who don't function under a particular learning style could be harmful. He touched the mind of every hipster whose nature it is to rebel, which is also the consciousness of Hip Hop.

He then broke down lyrics in his latest singles "Words I Never Said." As the music played, Lupe mouthed the lyrics. I expected him to look around the room to see how people were feeling the song. Instead he closed his eyes and relived each line. He could've cared less about feedback on the song, he wanted to explain his message, going on about "new media activism," duality, and politics. Using the events in Egypt to make his point, he said, "our comfort in this country means death and destruction in other countries. What tipped the scale in the middle-east wasn't the 30 years of oppression, it was the food prices sky rocking." Though it seemed as if Lupe was traveling further away from his initial intention, which was to promote his album, he explained his goal to used this project to spark an intellectual debate. With LASERS, Lupe give hope to every Hip Hop head still blasting Ice Cube's "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted," praying that Jay Electronica would one day release an album. Lupe has done a great job with subtly spreading positive, revolutionary messages with his last two albums. LASERS posses more of an in your face style that would make Chuck D proud. Through the punk rock sound, major label backing, and random Trey Songz feature (blame Atlantic Records), *LASERS* is nevertheless the return of revolutionary Hip Hop.

## References

1. ↑ Charles, Spencer (February 28, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco | Laser's Manifesto [Interview]". *Greedmont Park*. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011.