The interntal problems between Lupe Fiasco and Atlantic Records may have ceased as the rapper has now provided fans with an update on the situation.
Fiasco posted a Twitter message and photo reading “Victory” Thursday (October 7).
A week before a protest was set to take place outside of Atlantic Records in New York City, Lupe Fiasco and his label appear to be on the mend. The Chicago native tweeted a picture of him and Atlantic executive Julie Greenwald together in front of a giant Atlantic poster, with Lupe giving the thumbs up and wearing a giant grin on his face. (Rap-Up)
Speaking at last weekend’s RACC (Regional Academic & Cultural Collaborative) in Florida, Lupe expanded on his problems with Atlantic.
Lupe said Atlantic wanted him to sign a contract that would give them 25% of anything he makes from shows or deals with other companies like Nike or whatever. (Sean’s note: That’s a 360 deal) He told them NO so they threatened him by not pushing any of his new songs on the radio or giving him money to make the videos (the I’m Beamin’ video came out of his own pocket). Also they basically don’t like his music or the way Lupe put it ‘They think I’m whack’. So Atlantic sent him hooks they wanted him to do. He recorded them and sent them back but they didn’t like them anymore and tried to have him change the hooks like 60 different times. In the end he had enough. (The LupE.N.D.)
Recently, Lupe explained what actions he has taken since his long-awaited Lasers keeps getting delayed.
“It’s like Lasers, that’s one album that got disrupted in the business process. It’s a great album, but that album may not come out. But here’s Food and Liquor II. So what’s going to make you happy? What’s truly going to make the people happy? I’m giving you another album. I’m already past it. I’m not sitting around, ‘Oh man, I want Lasers. Why don’t they put out my songs?’ Crying. For what? You go in and put out another record. And that’s what I did.” (Complex)
Last November, Lupe said he had four more albums left on his Atlantic Records contract.
“The last six months, it’s been like, ‘I gotta really, really go out there and show that I’m nicer than all of them,’ ” Lupe explained in an interview. “It’s like, ‘All right, so be it. If it takes three more albums to do it, then so be it.’ That’s what I got left with Atlantic. Three more after Lasers. I’m already done with two. The mixtape is coming Thanksgiving. It’ll be another mixtape after that and an album after that. It’s really to get that status and lock it in and [and have people] be like, ‘Look at this positive dude, the underdog. The positive one who came and murdered all these dudes. And he’s there, and he’s good.’ I’m finnin’ to house every single mode and arena I can get into. If y’all had somewhere where it’s live performances, I’m finnin to have the best live performances. If it’s mixtapes, I’m finnin’ to have the best mixtapes. If it’s albums again, it’s gonna be the best verse. If it’s the best dressed, I’m going hard as well.” (MTV)
Check out some past Lupe Fiasco footage below: