It is no coincidence that Lupe Fiasco is being mentioned in the media right now. After reading conversations and think pieces about the MC on my twitter feed, I felt that it was the perfect opportunity to share my two cents about the Chicago born rapper.
Most of us were introduced by Lupe Fiasco through his 2007 hit single, "Kick, Push". If not through “Kick, Push” then through his feature with the Old Kanye, “Touch The Sky”. Either way, Lupes' striking flow granted him a permanent seat at the table of MC’s on the come up. Following his placement in hip hop, Lupe Fiasco provided hip-hop fans with several groundbreaking albums, two including his debut album, “Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor” and his sophomore album, “Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool."
I am making an estimated guess that many of us, my audience included, was around 13, 14, or 15 years old when “Kick, Push” premiered on the 106 and Park top ten video lineup. Seeing “Kick, Push” for the first time on 106 and Park was quite odd. Back then, viewers of the show we're used to seeing flagrant, rambunctious rappers flaunting their money, cars, and video vixens. “Kick, Push” was far from flagrant. Even though it was a left-field video and style of rap that I was not used to seeing, I connected more with the song of the summer, “Mz.New Booty”.
Following “Kick, Push”, Lupe dropped another single, “Daydreamin” featuring the talented Jill Scott. “Daydreamin” set the bar for Lupe and placed “Food & Liquor” in the laps of mainstream listeners, leading to five Grammy nominations, including the Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. When both songs were head to head, I favored “Daydreamin” over “Kick, Push”. It was easy to listen to “Daydreamin”. The context was straightforward, the singing was easy to digest, and I did not have to think beyond the surface of the song to understand the meaning. “Kick, Push” on the other hand, required me to do just about everything I listed above. At the young age of 13, I did not want to hear a story about skateboarding misfits worrying about skateboarding.
At my current age, and I might be stating the obvious, I will say that “Kick, Push” is a little deeper than what is on the surface. Much deeper than the SB Dunks and customized decks. “Kick, Push” is about the transitional stages of life and curating your community with like-minded individuals. Listening to “Kick, Push” now brings a sense of nostalgia. A direct reflection of our growth from kids to adults. Nostalgia as an adult allows you to look back and use the skateboard Lupe Fiasco rapped about as your symbol that followed you from childhood to adulthood.
Lupe Fiasco's old school delivery sets the scene for storytelling. We are introduced to a young kid, figuring out how to ride and manage his balance on the new set of wheels, the skateboard (Life). We follow his pre-mature skating journey by watching him fall flat on his face leaving a temporary lisp, teaching himself how to hit a kickflip and skating around the block until a roadblock also known as security letting the protagonist know, “I’m sorry young man there's no skating here” which in turn has become the definition of the roadblocks we encounter in life and so, we kick, push and coast to another way or solution.
As we get older, we meet our first love but also figuring how to incorporate our first physical love to what has remained connected to us, the skateboard (lifestyle). Depending on the person and the circumstance, the love will be able to accommodate your lifestyle or even be the perfect fit so you can ride off together.
“But I'm engaged to these aerials and varials
And I don't think this board is strong enough to carry two"
She said "Bow! I weigh a hundred and twenty pounds" (Woo!)
"Now, let me make one thing clear
I don't need to ride yours, I got mine right here"
Last but not least listeners, get to the part of life where we build our community. Uniting like-minded individuals in a communal space where we feel the most comfortable. Finding freedom and escape amongst your community, makes the journey through life a little bit easier. Knowing that you can relate with another human being ignites your flame (driver) to kick and push forward by yourself and also with those around you-- your friends.
“They would push 'til they couldn't skate no more
Office building lobbies wasn't safe no more
And it wasn't like they wasn't getting chased no more
Just the freedom was better than breathing, they said (They said...)
An escape route they used to escape out
When things got crazy, they needed to break out
They'd head... to any place with stairs
Any good grinds, the world was theirs, ugh!”
During these wary times of COVID-19 and being in quarantine for almost six months, listening to “Kick, Push” was no longer a one-off experience or another song in my library. It had finally become a song for my life reflection. The journeys, romances, and communities that I have kicked and pushed through with roadblocks being in the way are part of the plan. My appreciation for Lupe Fiasco has increased tremendously. I thank this time in quarantine for allowing me to sit in nostalgia to get to this point and be proud of the life that I am kicking and pushing through. I hope you guys see that too.
Selah.