Soundcheck: Rap On Politics: A Slippery Slope
posted in: Music News • Urban
Last week, fans got a double dose of doozies from Lupe Fiasco who enjoyed soaring record sales after his MTV Movie Awards appearance then followed up the success with some pretty serious statements.
He told CBS’ What’s Trending, “The biggest terrorist is Obama in the United States of America. For me, I’m trying to fight the terrorism that’s actually causing the other forms of terrorism. The root cause of the terrorism is the stuff that you as a government allow to happen and the foreign policies that we have in place in different countries that inspire people to become terrorists. And it’s easy for us because it’s really just some oil, which we can really get on our own.
He went on to explain his reasons for not voting, saying, “I don’t get involved in the political process because it’s meaningless, to be honest. First of all I’m a real big believer if I’m gonna vouch for someone, then I’m gonna stand behind everything that they do. That’s just how I am as a human being. So politicians aren’t gonna do that because I don’t want you to bomb some village in the middle of nowhere.”
Crap. I vouched for Lupe and he just told me not to vote. Now what?
Lupe’s lash-out at President Obama was not as surprising to me as his conclusion that participation in a flawed system is futile; and that if you can’t support everything someone does, then you can’t support them at all. While I’ve always applauded the Chicago emcee for his intellectual prowess, and socially conscious content, I must admit, Lupe threw me for a loop with this one.
Isn’t the point of questioning authority to make a difference for the better? To change unfair practices and policies, and to refuse to blindly accept what’s on the surface? The declaration that voting is pointless seems not only irresponsible, but contradictory to the very platform I thought he was standing on. Worse than that, is the fact that Lupe just helped a whole lot of people hit the Mute button before they will ever hear him elaborate on his points. This is a man who clearly has a lot to say; and a lot to offer a habitually complacent crowd. He has the skills to motivate others to affect change, to think twice about what they read and hear and buy; but somewhere along the way, he lost the humility it takes to deliver such messages.
To call President Obama a terrorist is provocative, but not groundbreaking. It could have been enough to get people’s ears to perk up and listen to what followed. That’s where Lupe dropped the ball. He instantaneously relegated himself to the stereotypical “angry black man” that gripes at the system and offers no remedy. He became part of the problem instead of part of the solution. More noise.
Lupe’s statements suggest that the powers that be are too strong to contend with, and that the only answer is to withdraw. If that’s the case, what was the point of leading throngs of fans to protest at Atlantic Records in order to secure a release date for Lasers? Shouldn’t they have realized that their voices would not matter to the powerful executives at the top and decide to quit buying music altogether?
Come on, Lupe. Here I am, touting you as the poster child for what hip hop should be, happily reciting your uplifting, inspiring lyrics for all to hear, and hoping my little brother will choose you instead of Jeezy as a hip hop icon to pay attention to. Once people finally start listening, you go on a pretty radical rant against an American that I would think at least deserves your respect, if not your vote. You have honorable intentions, and you did your fans a disservice. You strive to deliver the truth and empower people, and instead, you disheartened them. I can swallow that you’re flawed, that everything you say and do and believe is not perfect, and I can still think you’re the best man for the job, or in this case, the mic. Lucky for you, fans like me are more understanding than you are.
I have no doubt that a peek into Lupe’s mind would unleash truths and insights that most of his fans would benefit from. I’m certain there are tons of facts and ideas that could inspire young people to do research, learn their own truths and question the powers that be. Instead, however, they never will. He really told them to give up. That his assertions weren’t even worth following up on. Are Americans imperialists? Are we bombing villages full of innocent people? Maybe. But who cares? We can’t do anything about it, so why ask questions.
Furthermore, I can’t help but wonder what personal fight with terrorism he’s referring to. How exactly is he waging this war against the “terrorism that’s actually causing other forms of terrorism.” WTF? Unless he’s moonlighting as a global superhero between concerts and interviews; I’m thinking this self-righteous rapper should stick to the rhymes until he learns to form a complete thought.
I don’t think Lupe’s intention was to alienate the people that support him. I don’t think he realized how hypocritical his statement was, or how much damage it would do to his credibility. I’m not a turncoat, and this unfortunate outburst is not enough to make me toss out his albums. I can accept that we don’t see eye to eye on this; that while he knows a lot, he doesn’t know everything, and that he has a lot of answers, but certainly not all of them. He can be smart and misguided. I can only hope that Lupe learns to speak his mind in a way that gives people a chance to hear him. Until then, I’ll chock this up to “Words” I wish he never said.