Kneelin' on Needles

"**Kneelin' on Needles**" is a song by Lupe Fiasco, released on April 1, 2017 to SoundCloud, in response to the American former 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. In protest against police brutality, Kaepernick peacefully kneeled during the national anthem, which resulted in him to be blacklisted in the NHL.

*Hypebeast* reported, "Besides the title of the track, the cover art for the song also features Kaepernick's old football number." *HotNewHipHop* observed, "it seems the song was recorded sometime between Thursday night and today, as Fiasco says 'K-Dot want stretch marks?' making clear reference to a conversation-sparking line from Lamar's new release "Humble."" He also mentions Chance the Rapper.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

Wa-ves

You say waves, I say wa-ves

Kaepernick, waddup?

I knew they was gonna do that to you, but it's all good though

You gotta stand up for something, know what I'm talking about?

Yeah, uh

[Verse 1]

Gravitons, orbit around my halo space

Halo space

Little Debbie crumbs and potato flakes

Junkyard food meets 808s

Better say your grace, stay your place

Play your bass

And wait on a upright right up to them n\*\*\*as that don't like us

Writer, fiber optics on high fiber

Move, quick like that

No Aiko ass, ain't shit like that

Magnum entendre, rollin' on a rubber

Hit Virgin for the album, I was floatin' on the cover

I pit my car, they let a lad in

I was floatin' on the cover, made a message out a mess

Got 'em clothes up the flow then taught 'em how to dress

Made a space so they can milk this way

Had 'em open up the udders

Broken off hat had folks in all colors

I wish a n\*\*\*a would try and open y'all shutters

Cartier frames, Aoki on a shirt in the red and white chukkas

Why you goin' all hard though?

NASCAR star got bars by the carload

You know LF won to come out the top

But for this ten, I'ma just open up the car door

And my deepness

Might spit the stash box sequence that'll open up the cargo

If I break it down to you lil' homie, might get a n\*\*\*a car towed

You ain't gotta worry 'bout ours though

DROGAS Light, DROGAS

And I might drop SKULLS as an art show

K-Dot want stretch marks?

I wanna own everything that's west of the best parts

K.R.I.T. everything from the legs down

Mickey Factz everything where the neck starts

Necklace, head, heart, go

Get set, mark, oh

[Chorus]

Turn the mics up

Like a n\*\*\*a 'round fight club

And the fuzz came through to indict us

But it's an inside job to decrease the supply

Then turn around and drive all the price up

I be speaking it right

But it's hard to believe that people still believe

That Jesus is white, oh Lord

I be speaking it right

It's hard to believe that people still believe

That Jesus is white, all right

All right, oh Lord

[Verse 2]

But, I'm back to the mentally

And it's not about natural ability

You would think that Kaep' took a shat

On the Statue of Liberty, goddamn

It's like we trapped in a memory

Untrue facts where black is an injury

It makes me wanna snap just to slap me an enemy

Then go into the back and just rap to infinity

Fuck, be more like Chance

Solo acts be more like bands

Adversaries be more like fans

BDs and GDs be more like fam

I'm just vying for the summer

Women lie, men lie, and everybody lie about the numbers

Hard to be smart

When the only thing on your mind's dying from a thumper

I know I'm weird but n\*\*\*a it's real

Better to hear it from a n\*\*\*a like Lu

Before you hear it from a n\*\*\*a like Trump

Talk to a n\*\*\*a like you, oh Lord

[Chorus]

Turn the mics up

Like a n\*\*\*a 'round fight club

And the fuzz came through to indict us

But it's an inside job to decrease the supply

Then turn around and drive all the price up

I be speaking it right

But it's hard to believe that people still believe

That Jesus is white, oh Lord

I be speaking it right

It's hard to believe that people still believe

That Jesus is white, all right

All right, oh Lord

[Outro]

Yeah, DROGAS, DROGAS, DROGAS, yeah

In stores now, uhh, and we going on tour too

Lu! Truly yours

Wa-ves on the way, it's genius!

Oh Lord, know what I'm talking about?

Izzy, waddup?!

## References

1. ↑ Espinoza, Joshua (April 1, 2017). "Listen to Lupe Fiasco's Politically Charged Track "Kneelin' on Needles"". *Complex*.
2. ↑ Li, Nicolaus (April 2, 2017). "Listen to Lupe Fiasco's Latest Track "Kneelin' on Needles"". *Hypebeast*.
3. ↑ Smith, Trevor (April 1, 2017). "Kneelin' on Needles". *HotNewHipHop*.