Superstar

“It's hard being a Lupe fan, go to Harvard to be a Lupe stan.”This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia.The original article was at Superstar (Lupe Fiasco song). The list of authors can be seen in the page history.Category

## **from the album *Lupe Fiasco's The Cool***

### **Label**

* 1st & 15th
* Atlantic

### **Songwriter(s)**

* Rudolph Lopez
* Wasalu Jaco

### **Producer(s)**

Soundtrakk

"**Superstar**" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as the lead single and third track from his second studio album, *Lupe Fiasco's The Cool* (2007). It features American singer-songwriter Matthew Santos on the chorus.

The song peaked at number ten on the *Billboard* Hot 100 and was nominated at the 2009 Grammy Awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 17, 2008, and Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on February 25, 2022. "Superstar" is featured on the soundtracks of *NFL Tour* and *NHL 2K10*. Professional baseball player Hanley Ramírez used the song as his walk-up music at Florida Marlins home games. Additionally, it was the theme song of Fox8's *Football Superstar*.

## Background

The remix version features Young Jeezy and T.I. Fiasco wanted Eminem on this version as well, though was unsuccessful. In 2021, he revealed that he wanted Chris Martin to be featured on the single, stating, "P or Ye told me on the set for "Everyone Nose" they heard Chris singing the chorus on a video shoot and he was like that's me which kinda was 🤯." In 2022, he addressed to Twitter problems he had with Atlantic, where they would replace instruments on records in order to be credited as producers. He noted, "Craig Kallman attempted to "reproduce" the entire record & claim it. I left in a small bass roll in the third verse as proof."

The lyrics are autobiographical, about "the perils of the music business." He clarified to *Billboard*, "I'm like, 'Hey, if you are what you say you are'—just remember here's all the kind of struggles, trials and tribulations and don't rest on your laurels. [...] It's always been a challenge being in the music business. Whether that's a challenge to stay credible or selling records or staying relevant, that all comes at a certain cost and a lot of the times that's not good."

## Critical reception

*PopMatters* penned positively, "the obligatory ode to newfound fame, laced with crowd and camera sound effects and topped with another sublime Matthew Santos hook." Mark Pytlik of *Pitchfork* remarked it to be a "hooky first single [...] with Fiasco protégé Matthew Santos (who has probably heard a few Coldplay albums) playing Adam Levine to Fiasco's Kanye West." *Sputnik Music* wrote, "The snide commentary on celebrity culture which runs through lead single 'The Superstar' is infinitely more engaging than any of his conceptual efforts. John Legend-clone Matthew Santos makes the first of his two vocal contributions, his sweet voice providing the infectious hook..."

## Music video

The accompanying music video was released on November 5, 2007. It was directed by Hype Williams and filmed earlier that year in the first week of October. It premiered on BET's *106 & Park* on November 23 and on February 19, moved up to the number one spot on the countdown. The black leather jacket Fiasco wears in the video was created by Dr. Romanelli, specifically for the promo. Matthew Santos also makes a cameo, standing in a dark smoke room.

The visual depicts a Mercedes-Benz S-Class stopping at the red carpet. Two girls leave the car. Director Hype Williams manages to slip in two characters from *The Cool*: The Cool with his characterizing skeleton hand, and The Streets with her dollar signs in her eyes. The Cool apparently sold his soul to The Game for fame and fortune. In return, The Game's wife The Streets made him The Coolest and gave him the Mercedes as well as his bling and the gold key he has around his neck.

## Live performances

Fiasco performed the song at a variety of shows, including the mtvU Woodie Awards (2007), Chicago Has Talent (2010), Walmart Soundcheck (2011), the Dodger Stadium (2014), Riot Fest (2021), and Hip Hop 50 Live (2023). Televised performances throughout 2008 include *Late Show with David Letterman*, *The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson*, and *Mi TRL*, where Santos was present for the latter two. He performed the song with Coldplay for their Chicago show on May 28, 2022, during their Music of the Spheres World Tour.

## Accolades

Certifications

 Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA)
 Platinum

Awards and nominations

Listicles

## Personnel

* Charles "Chilly Patton – executive producer
* Chris Gehringer – masterer
* Craig Bauer – mixer
* Greg "G-Ball" Magers – additional vocals, recorded by
* Matthew Santos – featured artist
* Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – writer, producer
* Soul Children of Chicago – additional vocals
* Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – lead artist, writer, executive producer

## Gallery

* Acoustic Version
* Remix Version
* Live Lounge 3
* Hip Hop 50 Live
* The Kennedy Center

**@LupeFiasco**: "Coolin..."
* July 14, 2015
* Instagram
**@LupeFiasco**: "Platinum off streams too! 🤗 #Superstar @Soundtrakk @MatthewSantos"
* September 28, 2017
* Twitter

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Chorus: Matthew Santos, *Lupe Fiasco*]

If you are what you say you are (*Yeah, yeah*)

A superstar (*Gon' say now*)

Then have no fear, the camera's here (*Uh*)

And the microphones

And they wanna know, oh, oh, oh, oh (*The return*)

If you are what you say you are

A superstar (*Uh-huh*)

Then have no fear, the crowd is here (*Yeah*)

And the lights are on (*Ha*)

And they want a show, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah (*Free Chilly*)

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]

Yeah, uh, a fresh, cool young Lu'

Tryna cash his microphone check, two-one-two

Wanna believe my own hype, but it's too untrue

The world brought me to my knees; "What have you brung? You?

Did you improve on a design? Did you do something new?

Well, your name ain't on the guest list, who brung you?

You—the more famous person—you come through

And the sexy lady next to you, you come too!"

And then it hit me, standing outside of heaven

Waiting for God to come and get me: I'm too uncouth

Unschooled to the rules and too gumshoe

Too much of a newcomer and too uncool

Like Shadow and Lavelle, I battle with it well

Though I need a holiday like lady who sung blue

"Go back, whatever you did, you undo."

Heavy as heaven, the devil on me two tons too

Ha, ha, ha, ha-ha-ha

[Chorus: Matthew Santos]

If you are what you say you are

A superstar

Then have no fear, the camera's here

And the microphones

And they wanna know, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]

And you better wear your shades

The spotlights here can burn holes through the stage

Down through the basement, past the Indian graves

Where the dinosaurs laid and (Pew!)

Out through China, nearly misses airliners

Magnified times five, this was pointed at the rhymer

Ricochets off the moon and sets the forest ablaze (Woo!)

Now, that's important to say

'Cause even with all that, most of us don't want it to fade

We want it to braid

Meaning we want it to grow, meaning we want it to stay

Like the governor called, and he told him to wait

Unstrap him from the chair, and put him back in his cage

The audience ain't fazed

And they ain't gon' clap, and they ain't gon' praise (Uh)

They want everything back (Back) that they've paid

'Cause they've been waiting since ten to see the lights get dim

Ha, ha, ha, ha-ha-ha

[Chorus: Matthew Santos]

If you are what you say you are

A superstar

Then have no fear, the crowd is here

And the lights are on

And they want a show, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]

So, chauffeur, chauffeur, come and take me away

'Cause I've been standing in this line for, like, five whole days

Me and security ain't getting along, and when I got to the front

They told me all of the tickets were gone

So just take me home where the mood is mellow

And the roses are thrown, M&M's are yellow

And the light bulbs around my mirror don't flicker

Everybody gets a nice autograph picture

One for you and one for your sister

Who had to work tonight but is an avid listener

Every song's her favorite song; and mics don't feedback

All the reviewers say, "You need to go and see that!"

And everybody claps, 'cause everybody is pleased

And then, they all take the stage and start performing for me

Like, "Ha, ha, ha-ha-ha"

"Ha, ha, ha-ha-ha, ha"

[Chorus: Matthew Santos, *Lupe Fiasco*]

If you are what you say you are

A superstar

Then have no fear, the camera's here

And the microphones

And they wanna know, oh, oh, oh, oh

If you are what you say you are

A superstar (*Superstar*)

Then have no fear, the crowd is here

And the lights are on

And they want a show, oh, oh, oh, oh (*Yeah*)

[Outro: Matthew Santos]

If you are

What you say you are

Then have no fear

## References

1. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. January 18, 2020.
2. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. July 16, 2013.
3. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. January 18, 2020.
4. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. December 10, 2021.
5. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. August 2, 2022.
6. ↑ Lamarre, Carl (June 16, 2022). "Black Music Month: Lupe Fiasco Talks Dodging the Sophomore Jinx with 'The Cool'". *Billboard*.
7. ↑ Schonfeld, Zach (January 6, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco: Lupe Fiasco's The Cool". *PopMatters*.
8. ↑ Pytlik, Mark (January 8, 2008). "*The Cool* Lupe Fiasco". *Pitchfork*.
9. ↑ De Sylvia, Dave (December 19, 2007). "Lupe Fiasco *The Cool*". *Sputnik Music*.
10. ↑ "\*Update\* Lupe Fiasco Clears the Air on Hip Hop Honors". *HipHopDX*. October 6, 2007.
11. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (May 30, 2022). "Coldplay Blast Chicago Fans with Waves of Intergalactic Love at Show Featuring Hometown 'Superstar' Lupe Fiasco". *Billboard*.
12. ↑ "Grammy 2009 Winners List". *MTV News*. February 8, 2009.
13. ↑ Levine, Nick (September 8, 2008). "In Full: MTV Video Music Awards 2008 Winners". *Digital Spy*.
14. ↑ "2008 Teen Choice Awards Winners and Nominees". *Los Angeles Times*. June 17, 2008. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008.
15. ↑ Adaso, Henry (September 28, 2019). "The Top 100 Rap Songs of 2007". *LiveAbout*.
16. ↑ Rindner, Grant and Burnett, Jane (September 6, 2022). "54 Hip-Hop Songs That Capture the Genre's History". *Oprah Daily*.
17. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". *Instagram*. July 14, 2015.
18. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. September 28, 2017.