Lupe Fiasco

Released: November 24, 2011

Songwriter: Howard Zinn Lupe Fiasco

Intro: [Howard Zinn]
We have to stop wars, we have to stop this war
And we have to get out the habit of war
It's more than a habit, it's an addiction
We have to get out of thinking that we must be a military superpower

We must get out of thinking that we must have military bases, as we have in a hundred countries
Is it possible that having military bases in a hundred countries arouses a lot of antagonism?
Is it possible that it promotes terrorism when your soldiers and your sailors are all over the world, occupying this country and that? Is it possible?

Why do we have to be a military superpower?
Why can't we be a humanitarian superpower?
Instead of sending planes for bombs
Why don't we send planes for food and medicine?

[Soldier One]
Oh shit, it's one of the machines
Looks like it's trapped under something, it's broken or something

[Soldier Two]
Let's get out here -- we cannot stay

[Soldier One]
Hold on lemme get my keyboard, I can re-program this thing

[Soldier Two]
It doesn't matter. Leave it!

[Soldier One]
No seriously, I can do it -- just give me a second!

[Computer -- continuously]
Reprogramming unsuccessful

[Machine -- continuously]
Enemy -- I kill people

[Soldier One]
I swear to God, man, I can do this! I can do this!
Cross your fingers
You have to work!
All right, this is the last time

[Computer]
Reprogramming successful

[Soldier One]
Yes!

[Machine]
Friend..I.. fight.. evil..

The Chicago born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco first tasted success when he featured on Kanye West’s hit “Touch the Sky”, a track that shortly preceded his real breakout, his 2006 debut album Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor, and he never looked back. He has established himself as one of the greatest urban wordsmiths of all time, with Genius even dubbing him the ‘Proust of Rap’.

While he’s now regarded of one of the 21st Century’s Hip-Hop greats, he wasn’t always a fan of the genre, initially disliking it due to the prominence of vulgarity and misogyny within it. In his late teens, he aspired to make it as a lyricist. In his early twenty’s, he met Jay-Z, who helped him sign with Atlantic Records in 2005. The following year, he released his debut album (Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor), which was met with acclaim from fans and critics alike, as did his sophomore effort, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool.

The following eight years of his career saw far less output than many would’ve anticipated. This can be partly attributed to his struggles with Atlantic Records. The executives wanted him to sign a 360 deal; however, as he refused to do so they instead shelved his already completed 3rd album, Lasers, and wouldn’t promote him as they had previously. The overseers at the label also interfered with his music (as they had tried to do with his fan-favorite track “Dumb it Down”); subsequently effecting the quality and sound of his third and fourth albums.

more tracks from the album

Friend of the People: I Fight Evil

From the album

Friend of the People: I Fight Evil (2011)

Lupe Fiasco popular songs

IntroductionLupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco

Friend of the People: I Fight Evil