Shining Down

*Lasers*This article is part of the Lasers era.Released: March 7, 2011
Label: 1st & 15th Entertainment / Atlantic RecordsCategory

## Promotional single by Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos

"**Shining Down**" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as a promotional single on July 7, 2009. It was included in the iTunes deluxe version of *Lasers* (2011) and features guest vocals from American singer Matthew Santos. It was intended to be the lead single from *Everywhere* off Fiasco's triple album, *LupEND* (*Everywhere, Nowhere, Down Here*), though was scrapped by the decision of Atlantic Records.

It appeared in the soundtrack of the video game *Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit* (2010).

## Background

On June 16, 2009, the track leaked online in full quality, much to Fiasco's frustration. This led to the launch of cease-and-desist over many websites to remove it. Fiasco stated in his blog, "I DON'T LEAK MY OWN RECORDS!!! I'M NOT A FAN OF LEAKING RECORDS OR OF DOWNLOADING!!!" This also happened with his debut studio album, *Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor*, which pushed back the release date and "possibly cost [him] from going platinum."

He continued, "If you come across it and you like it and keep it to yourself that's all cool with me but to make it where as other people are able to download it in a public forum is honestly an insult to me. Especially because of how much I love you guys. That shit is kinda like a slap in the face." He added that someone hacked into his e-mail account, which was how they leaked the song. He explained, "I was about to fire my entire staff and cut off relationships over shining down leaking last night. […] the only possible explanation is my email chain with the mix studio (which is air tight…the studio that is) was hacked and thats where the record came from." Santos himself tweeted out: "Shinning Down was hacked and leaked, it's not the final version though! please wait for the official release!"

## Reception

Zach Kelly of *Pitchfork* wrote in their review that "Shining Down" was a "bland refix" of "Superstar" and had "None of Lupe's effervescent wit or flow".

## Personnel

* Matthew Santos – vocals, writer
* Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – vocals, writer
* Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – vocals, writer

## Cultural references

* Jerry Lawler, also known as "The King," is an American color commentator and professional wrestler.
* *Rebel Without a Cause* is a 1955 American film focused on teen Jim Stark, who has a troubled past.
* Fabolous is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York.
* The Federal Reserve System is United States' central banking system.
* *National Geographic* is an American monthly magazine.
* *Dancing with the Stars* is an American dance competition TV series.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Matthew Santos]

Look up in the sky

Look up in the sky

Look up in the sky (Sky, sky)

[Chorus: Matthew Santos]

You thought I was down

You thought I was gone

Thought I wasn't around

That I left you alone

But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

See that I'm everywhere, everywhere

Shining down on you

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]

Well, well, is that our little author?

Coming back, humming his hymns, a little altered

Your attention, put back on the flow like the department of water

Taking off with the dough, like Little Walter

Chess, yes, baby, I'm Jerry Lawler

Rebel with a cause, outlaw with the lawyer

Judge, jury, like a loop

Rap name Lupe, but my daddy named me warrior

This is his memorial, shoot

[Chorus: Matthew Santos]

You thought I was down

You thought I was gone

Thought I wasn't around

That I left you alone

But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

See that I'm everywhere, everywhere

Shining down on you

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]

No, I ain't that n\*\*\*a trying to get a liquor line

When I be scripting lines, want this petition signed

It says I'm sick of dyin', sick of this prison time

I really love my people, I'm sick of pimping mine

Now if we Auto-Tune that shit

We can hear the songs from that opera groomed fat bitch

Telling us not to pursue it, just to shoe it like a blacksmith

We're trapped, and moving round in circles like it's ChapStick

And that's the same encircled way of thinking that we chat with

We'll wrap this around your head

Like the bandanas Fabolous used to wrap his hats with

Rather be in FEDS instead of National Geographics

Well, I'm not having it, nawwww

[Chorus: Matthew Santos]

You thought I was down

You thought I was gone

Thought I wasn't around

That I left you alone

But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

See that I'm everywhere, everywhere

Shining down on you

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]

So, I say hello and this is for the third time

To everybody out there who ain't never heard mine

And if you have, then you know you ain't never heard lying

Lu don't moo, no, cow-ards, you only heard lines

Not a facade cherisher, I'd rather have the scars

I don't idolize America, I'm dancing with the stars

Uh-huh, all of them? Yeah, they are, too

You look up and you see us shining down on you

[Chorus: Matthew Santos]

You thought I was down

You thought I was gone

Thought I wasn't around

That I left you alone

But look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

Just look up in the sky (Look up in the sky)

See that I'm everywhere, everywhere

Shining down on you

[Outro: Matthew Santos]

Shining down on you

Shining down on you

Shining down on you

## References

1. ↑ "Shining Down (feat. Matthew Santos)" by Lupe Fiasco". *Apple Music*. July 7, 2009.
2. ↑ Medina, Jeremy (June 17, 2009). "Kanye Is Latest to Leak Lupe Fiasco Track; Lupe Already Caps-Lock Mad". *Entertainment Weekly*.
3. ↑ Roberts, Steven (June 17, 2009). "Lupe Fiasco Calls 'Shining Down' Leak 'A Slap in the Face'". *MTV*.
4. ↑ "Matthew Santos (@MatthewSantos)". *Twitter*. June 16, 2009.
5. ↑ Kelly, Zach (June 28, 2009). ""Shining Down" [ft. Matthew Santos]". *Pitchfork*.