The views expressed are of Asst. Editor: @SeanCK

Lupe Fiasco took to his routine method of action today, standing up for his art in protest to Spin Magazine’s recent critique of Lupe’s “B*tch Bad” music video. The writer referred to Lupe’s latest work as “half-baked conscious hip-pop” and that “it is the umpteenth example of so-called “conscious” hip-hop replacing one type of misogyny with another.” Now Lupe has responded by tweeting, “My dignity and my respect for my art is of more value than a few visits to your website and your measly cover price.” Now to me after watching this video a couple times, it’s clear what Lupe is doing. And while it is obvious and simple what Lupe does in the video, that doesn’t make it half-assed, or lazy as stated by the Spin writer. He ended his article equalizing Lupe as a “backpack rap hustler selling cynicism”. Do you know Lupe? Have you heard his music since the beginning? Do you know his background as an emcee? Evidently not.

Lupe began more than 10 years ago writing explicit lyrics, more violent than one would expect from Lu,  speaking on what occurred in the neighborhood where he grew up, the still struck westside of Chicago. From that he matured to undeniably one of the most talented lyricists to emerge in the past 10 years. From that Lupe evolved once again, all while keeping his “Conscious mind” prevalent while recording his music (easier said than done). Being one of the most popular rappers in the world, unlike almost any other star in todays world, has time after time stood up for the art, keeping a specific message in his music – one of the most critical means of communication for the masses. From the lyrically intensive “Dumb It Down”, “Failure” or “Go To Sleep”, Lupe has showcased an uncanny talent to disguise his message inside metaphors and puns reminiscent to those of Nas. In 2012 after a commercially successful and still message driven Lasers, Lupe is doing what believes as is best to reiterate his beliefs to the correct consumers, those in the video, those who need to understand this more than anyone. Did you see Lupe on Rapfix, Do you know what happens in Chicago? To write an article such as this about almost any other rapper is one thing, but Lupe? That just shows a sign of ignorance.