S. Samuel
Despite creating rumors about a possible feud stemming between him and Drake, Grammy-winning lyricist Lupe Fiasco has come forward and extended his hand toward the Canadian rapper.
Performing in Drizzy’s hometown of Toronto, Lupe crowned Drake as one of hip-hop’s top artists.
“When the young man came to my city, he brought me out on stage and said, ‘Yo, this guy right here’s a legend,’ in my own city so I said, ‘Thank-you. Thank-you Aubrey.’ So I want to say it on his stage, in his city. Make some noise for one of the legends, hip-hop’s finest. Make some noise for your hometown hero. Drake, ladies and gentlemen. I had to do that, return the favor.” (Yes Probably)
Earlier this month, Fiasco stirred speculation after referencing Jay-Z and Kanye West‘s Watch the Throne LP along with Lil Wayne and Drake in a freestyle.
“When you’re done Watching The Throne, turn around and watch me, when you’re done with [Lil Wayne’s] Tha Carter IV come back to me for more, when you’re done with that Drake, no, I ain’t trying to hate but I’m back up on my grind and I’m about to skaaaaate on these n*ggas….Put it on your blog and your Tumblrs on your Twitters that Lupe said that he’s the best, n*gga!” (The LupEND Blog)
In April, Fiasco proclaimed his greatness as a lyricist.
Fiasco admitted that he made a more [pop-sounding] album than he would have liked with Lasers and isn’t proud of the artistic compromises he had to make. While he might not feel comfortable making pop music, Lupe is confident with his skills on the mic; even going as far as calling himself one of the best lyrical MCs in the game at the moment. “I can actually make the argument, seriously, that, Yo, I’m better than all y’all,” he boasted. “You have people who can say that. Jay-Z can say that.Eminem can say that. Canibus can say that–if we are going line for line. If you want to relate me to the newer cats, let’s go. Let’s go line for line and bar for bar. If it’s all about spitting and metaphors and MCing and lyrics and entendres, I will eat 99 percent of you dudes up.” (XXL Mag)
Outside of music, the Chicago rapper recently became Vans sneakers’ new brand ambassador.
Vans has enlisted the services of Lupe Fiasco for a collection of more casual kicks for its Spring 2012 OTW drop. The sneakers feature a more overall lifestyle feel that resembles that of the brand Gourmet. Minimal branding, clean cuts, and monochromatic uppers characterize the Lupe-collaborated series, as they will be available sometime next year. (Complex)
Check out Lupe Fiasco’s message to Drake below:
