S. Samuel
Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco has laid down the science to his new "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)" record and why New York producer Pete Rock's iconic "T.R.O.Y." sample was used.
Fiasco gave props to his manager for making the record possible and stood behind sampling Rock’s 1990’s classic.
“All the credit goes to my partner and manager Chill, he just felt like it was time to bring back a joint,” he said. “Go back and take one of the iconic records of hip-hop and put a new spin on it and put it back out there. I spit on it a couple times before, some mixtape stuff back in the day, Chill felt it needed a bigger look than that.” (Ruby Hornet)
Yesterday, Rock hopped on Twitter to unleash his issues with the unauthorized sample.
“Who ever Re-created that didn’t do a good job @ all. #nohate,” he tweeted May 21st.
“This business can be so lame, sometimes I make beats blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back and still these cats can’t be original to”
“So untalented and unoriginal. Makes me feel like I’m truly the best that ever did it. Yo hev and t-Roy I love and miss da shit outta y’all” (Pete Rock’s Twitter)
He also made sure to remind fans his issues are not directly aimed at Fiasco.
“I think lupe is a great artist, I’m that angry with him but it’s a major label idea. I can feel it.”
“And y’all need to stop the childish games, I’m a fan of lupe and he is a great artist and a great person.”
“And let me be clear cuz a lot of y’all don’t know this. But Tom Scott himself gave me an approval for TROY, told me I did a great job!!” (Pete Rock’s Twitter)
Fiasco’s new record started circulating online Monday evening.
“Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)” drops tomorrow on iTunes, but without Fiasco and his label butting heads like the old days, what would the end product sound like? Everything the rapper has done post-LASERS has been met with trepidation although the free release of his Friend of the People mixtape should have put all the stress to rest. If it didn’t, Fiasco fans can check out an excerpt of “Around My Way” and decide on what direction it hints the album will go. At first listen, early signs are very encouraging. The track summons Pete Rock & CL Smooth‘s “They Reminisce Over You(T.R.O.Y)” with an amped up take that hits harder on the drums and bass. This is definitely not the Modest Mouse samplings of LASERS‘ first single “The Show Goes On.” (OC Weekly)
Check out “Freedom Ain’t Free” below:
