Checkin'

"**Checkin'**" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released on June 16, 2023. His vocals are autotuned, and noted to be sonically rooted in his *Tape Tape* era. Originally the song was slated to be released at noon, though dropped earlier at midnight. He previewed the song on June 11, 2023, to his TikTok account.

## Music video

The accompanying visualizer video uses artificial intelligence (AI), where he plugged the image and song into a generator, with the near-first prompt being cyberpunk. The video also contains the acronym "APTMC" (All Proceeds to My Chain).

The official music video premiered to his YouTube channel on August 9, 2023, filmed by BuddaDatBoss and ShotbyFlyGuy, with visual effects by AceViisualz. It featured a cameo from Chicago hip hip group Crucial Conflict.

## Cultural references

* Geppetto is the Italian fictional character who created the wooden puppet, Pinocchio.
* Rolex is a Swiss watch designer and manufacturer.
* Ferrari is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer.
* *My Little Pony* is a franchise by American toy company Hasbro.
* Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle monument in Wiltshire, England.
* Daffy Duck is a fictional anthropomorphic black duck who appeared in *Looney Tunes*.
* Nat King Cole (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965) is an American jazz singer, pianist, and actor.
* Gatling is a multi-barrel firearm, invented in 1862 by Richard Jordan Gatling that could fire up to 200 rounds a minute.
* Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury vehicle brand.
* Batcave is the headquarters of DC Comics' superhero Batman.
* Nas is an American rapper and one of Fiasco's major influences.
* Sears is an American chain of department stores.

## Gallery

* Visualizer

Timestamp: 0.00Timestamp: 0.01Timestamp: 0.19Timestamp: 0.59Timestamp: 1.16Timestamp: 1.25Timestamp: 1.50Timestamp: 1.53Timestamp: 2.04Timestamp: 2.19
## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

Yah, yah, yah, yah, yah

Yah, yah, yah, yah, yah, yah, yah

Yah, yah, yah, yah, yah, yah, yah

[Verse 1]

Uh, levels, ladders versus shovels

Overstand like Geppetto

And sometimes I just gotta let go

Let a kid stand with no kick stand peddle

Bike in this bitch (Bike)

I'm scratchin' on gun, ain't no war, just a knife in a knitch

Tighten my grip, right by the tip

Then let it flip, flick of the wrist

Like fishin' for ships, n\*\*\*as get hit

No, not a slay, when I was a jit

Got hit by a whip

I am a star, I wish on myself

I got the bars, I sip on myself

I'm down on the pill, I slip on a Rollie

I am fulfilled, n\*\*\*a can't hold me

I am not holy (For real)

Ferrari the whip, My Little Pony

That's why when I'm lit, that's when I'm zonin'

Zone, zone, zone, zone, zone like I'm Sonic

Wipe up a kid, circle of bricks just like it's Stonehenge

Circle of death, just let me donut

Sprinkles are on it, fuck my opponents

[Chorus]

I want a little off the chain

Redbone from the stain

They be checkin' on me, on the regular

(Checkin')

I keep a little chunk of change in the safe

In case I catch a case

Out here doin' more than my competitors

[Verse 2]

Yeah, uh

She a bad ho, she a athlete, uh

Treat a lap dance like a track meet, uh

None of my cars got backseats, uh

Fitted with the fifty, keep the cash neat, uh

Whuppin' on a stripper, get her backbeat, uh

Askin' me to smack her on her asscheek, uh

Duckin' out the club like Daffy, uh

'Fore I fall in love with a bad bitch

Have a n\*\*\*a sick like a lab leak

Goddamn, I'mma need a vaccine

Blue bottle, finna get the caffeine

Downtown, finna eat the magazine, uh

Wrist all cold like Nat King, chain look St. Marc, call that tag team

Build fast shit like Gatling and that Benz look like that Batwing

Mod that flow from valet, valet gotta park my shit in the Batcave

Shit so serious, Nas wore Sears, I'm in bein' in a Batcage

Above that shit, not only from but I'm of that shit, I love that shit

Put my arm around and hug that shit, ride around town with a thug ass bitch

[Chorus]

'Cause I want a little off the chain

Redbone from the stain

They be checkin' on me, on the regular

(Checkin')

I keep a little chunk of change in the safe

In case I catch a case

Out here doin' more than my competitors

[Outro]

Out here bitch, I out here

(Checkin')

Tell that bitch I out here

I be out here, yeah, I'm out here

(Checkin')

Tell that hoe I'm out here

Yeah I'm out here, yes I'm out here

(Checkin')

Bitch you know I'm out here

Yes I out here, yes I out here

(Checkin')

Yeah, you know I'm out here

(Out, out, out)

## References

1. ↑ Alexandria, Lavender (June 16, 2023). "Lupe Fiasco Goes Hard on New Song "Checkin'"". *HotNewHipHop*.
2. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". *Twitter*. June 11, 2023.
3. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco (@lupefiasco)". *Instagram*. June 25, 2023.
4. ↑ Duong, Paul (August 9, 2023). "Video: Lupe Fiasco "Checkin'". *Rap Radar*.