StartUp RockOn

**StartUp RockOn** is an annual event started by Event Farm, HyperVocal, and Fighter Interactive, which celebrate "entrepreneurs, innovators, and risk takers" in America. One infamous moment was in 2013, in concurrence with President Barack Obama's inaugural weekend, where Lupe Fiasco performed a 30-minute version of "Words I Never Said" and was escorted off stage.

## Controversy

Specific lyrics Fiasco repeated at the event was the first verse (which happened to include 'Gaza Strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say shit / That's why I ain't vote for him, next one either.') He added that he did not vote for the president.

Media company HyperVocal, a co-founder of the event, tweeted: "Disappointed that an artist took opportunity to use an event celebrating innovation/startups to make a political statement." This followed by the official statement:

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> Lupe Fiasco performed at this private event, and as you may have read, he left the stage earlier than we had planned. But Lupe Fiasco was not 'kicked off stage' for an 'anti-Obama rant.' We are staunch supporters of free speech, and free political speech. This was not about his opinions. Instead, after a bizarrely repetitive, jarring performance that left the crowd vocally dissatisfied, organizers decided to move on to the next act."
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In 2014, Fiasco explained to *Sway in the Morning* that he did not actually perform at the inauguration, contrary to the media's belief. He clarified over an interview that he knew Obama before becoming president, and that Obama dissed his friend, Cornel West, which made Fiasco stick by West's side. To *1HOOD*, he shared that in their first interaction, when running for senator, Obama's campaign reached out to Chicago; however, they found out that Chilly had a court case, so they backed out. In the second interaction, on the night Obama became president, they were out in Westside. Fiasco was there but did not shake Obama's hand. For Obama's election victory speech at Grant Park, Fiasco returned home and watched it on television. When Obama mentioned "we have to get out of the one in Iraq [...] and get into the real war in Afghanistan," he felt disappointed. He added that he "loved him" and that it was a great moment for "a symbol to do better whatever he was doing yesterday" and "changed your mind how you present yourself." He continued, "We have eloquence and grace and class and articulation and education embodied in one person who's the most powerful man in the world, who's black. And I hope that that alone, outside of whatever the fuck he finna do, is the lesson that the average Black man takes away from him."

## Reception

*Today* remarked, "While the lyrics might have come as a surprise to some, those familiar with the performer and sentiments he's made public in the past couldn't have been shocked." *The Hollywood Reporter* wrote, "The Grammy-nominated rapper from Obama’s home city of Chicago, who was the main act at the StartUp RockOn concert-party, used the stage to complain about the administration’s drone warfare program, and to state that he did not vote for Obama. Performed as one long song, it was greeted harshly by the partisan crowd, and led to organizers ushering the show on to the next performer."

*Maclean's* noted of the event's organizers statement, "If they had hoped for some of that soothing non-repetitive rap, we can only sympathize with their disappointment. But if somehow their first explanation was accurate, and they were 'disappointed that an artist…[made] a political statement' then it is time to find the people responsible and send work crews to extract their heads from their butts. Because Lupe Fiasco's last couple of years have largely been devoted to making unflattering political statements about Barack Obama." They continued that a simple Google search would've helped upon selecting the performer.

## References

1. ↑ Zakarin, Jordan (January 21, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Sings Anti-Obama Song, Rushed Off Stage at Inaugural Event (Video)". *Hollywood Reporter*.
2. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco: "I Did Not Perform At the Inauguration" & Depression "That Never Goes Away"". *YouTube*. June 5, 2014.
3. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco's Last Interview: Opens Up About New & BEST Album, Kid Cudi & President Obama". *YouTube*. January 22, 2015.
4. ↑ "1 ON 1HOOD with Lupe Fiasco". *YouTube*. November 30, 2022.
5. ↑ "Lupe Fiasco's Inaugural Celebration set ends early after anti-Obama rap". *Today*. January 21, 2013.
6. ↑ Zakarin, Jordan (January 21, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco Sings Anti-Obama Song, Rushed Off Stage at Inaugural Event (Video)". *The Hollywood Reporter*.
7. ↑ Wells, Paul (January 21, 2013). "Lupe Fiasco: What did they expect?". *Maclean's*.