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Lasers (album)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 98.198.217.237 (talk) at 20:41, 25 January 2011 (You have to cite a source for those. I haven't seen anywhere that those songs were confirmed to be on the album.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled

Lasers is the upcoming third studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, set to be released on March 8, 2011.

Background

Fiasco was originally going to release his triple album, LupE.N.D. as his third and final record, but his contract with Atlantic Records prevented him from retiring with this agenda. He then postponed LupE.N.D. indefinitely and intended on releasing an album tentatively titled The Great American Rap Album in June 2009.[2] Instead, the album was also postponed and he announced a new album was in the works, originally titled We Are Lasers and then changed to Lasers. Lasers is an acronym for "Love Always Shines, Everytime Remember 2 Smile".[3]

Releases

During a concert at Boston College, Fiasco played the chorus of a song called "Shining Down", which eventually led to a snippet being leaked onto the internet.[4] On May 17, a low quality version of the single leaked onto the internet, possibly stemming from a rip from the "FNF TV Stream".[5] "Shining Down" was intended to be the first single off of Everywhere, the first of the three CDs that LupE.N.D. is composed of.[6] But because its release was withheld, there was speculation circulating that it may be the first single from Lasers. Lupe later confirmed that it is in fact the first single off of the album. The song is produced by Soundtrakk and features Matthew Santos, in the same collaborative manner that Lupe featured Santos on his hit lead single, "Superstar" for his sophomore album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. The full version was leaked onto the Internet on June 16, 2009.[7] Fiasco stated that he was angry at the leak; Matthew Santos confirmed that the leaked track is not the final mix.[8][9] The song was released on July 7, 2009.[10] However, "Shining Down" did not do as well as Fiasco hoped, charting at only #93 on the Billboard Hot 100 during its initial run.[11]

A previously leaked track titled "I'm Beamin" which is confirmed to be the intro for Lasers, was re-released on January 26, 2010 as the official single from the album after a blowout from Lupe confirming that this was stolen material. Lupe stated that Atlantic decided to chase the leak and officially release the song for the public. Lupe also confirmed that both Neptunes are present on the track on the DJ GreenLantern radio show, claiming to be responsible for putting Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo together again on a track for the first time since Common's Universal Mind Control album.[12]

In Lupe's mixtape Enemy of the State: A Love Story he advertises the album as an interlude called Lasers Manifesto where he states:

‎"We will not compromise who we are to be accepted by the crowd,

We want substance in the place of popularity,
We want to think our own thoughts,
We want love, not lies,
We want knowledge, understanding and peace,
We will not lose, because we are not losers,

We are Lasers."

The first single to Lasers, "The Show Goes On", was released via Fiasco's website on October 26, 2010. The song features a sped up sample or cover of "Float On" by Modest Mouse, and the chorus is sung to the same rhythm.

On February 10, an unfinished track titled "What U Want" was leaked which also features Kenna. It was later confirmed on Lupe's twitter feed that the song will be on the album.[13]

In an interview with Australian radio station Triple J, Lupe revealed that although the album had been submitted to his label, they still had no solid release date for it. He stated: "It's one of the sadder parts of being on a major record label. At a certain point it's out of your hands. About a date for Lasers, it's truly on them. I have no idea what they're going to do."[14]

To further promote the album, Lupe released a viral video onto the internet titled "Lasers Manifesto", which can be found on both YouTube and the official website of Lasers.[15]

Lupe performed 3 unreleased songs in Claremont, CA titled "Scream", "State Run Radio" and "Beautiful Lasers".[16] However, it has been stated that none of these new songs are singles, and none of the songs will be on the album according to Lupe Fiasco's road manager.[17] The music video for "I'm Beamin'" was released on to the internet.[18] Merchandise related to the Steppin' Lasers tour for the upcoming album was released.[19]

On December 14 of 2010, producer Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis revealed the information of the second single of "Lasers" but not the name of the song, which was written by Duplessis himself, Arden Altino, Syience, John Legend and Lupe Fiasco, while the song was produced by Duplessis and Syience, with co-production and keyboards by Arden "Keyz" Altino, and the song was recorded in Platinum Sound Recording Studio, in New York City by Warren Babson and Serge “Sergical” Tsai.[20] Later on January 4 of 2011, Billboard revealed two guests appearances in Lupe Fiasco's album "Lasers" and an article that Lupe Fiasco said. However the guests confirmed are Trey Songz and British-rapper Sway, and the article says "When it's something that's done illegally or maliciously, it's different. It's songs you don't even have as the artist, and some dude in the middle of nowhere that hacked into a computer has it. It upsets the balance of what you want to do as an artist and how you want to roll your album out. People don't really understand the ramifications when a song leaks. There are actually studios that are sued, and engineers that are fired."[21]

On January 11, Lupe Fiasco revealed during and interview with Providence's Hot 106 that the follow-up single to "The Show Goes On" is titled "Words I Never Said", Later Lupe Fiasco said "It's gonna be really big. It's a big, controversial record", and also he revealed that The Neptunes, Soundtrakk, Kane Beatz and The Buchanans are confirmed producers on delayed album, finally set to be released on March 8.[22] Later in January 18th Lupe Fiasco released a teaser of the music video of the single, wich was filmed in Times Square in New York City, however the song features singer Skylar Grey, and was produced by Alex da Kid.[23]

Fan Petitions for Album Release

Lupe Fiasco announced on Twitter that the album is complete and is waiting for Atlantic Records to release it. Richard Barker, a fan also waiting on the album, put together an online petition demanding that Atlantic Records release Lasers, due to the fact the album was announced last year and still doesn't have a release date.[24] The petition garnered considerable attention on hip hop blog sites as well as attaining over 5,000 signatures on its first day. It has since reached over 32,000 signatures.[25] In response to the petition, Lupe Fiasco released a song titled "B.M.F. (Building Minds Faster)" as a gift for his fans. The story was featured on many sites, including CNN[26] and MTV,[27] in which Lupe said 'I love to see this petition. It brought me to tears a couple of times.'

To further on stress the petition to Atlantic Records, a number of Lupe Fiasco fans set up a protest called Fiasco Friday.[28] Fans protested outside Atlantic Records' offices in New York City on October 15, 2010.[29] Lupe Fiasco announced on Twitter that he would be attending, where he gave a speech.[30]

On October 7, 2010, Lupe Fiasco tweeted "Victory!" along with posting a picture of himself with Atlantic President, Julie Greenwald. On October 8, Atlantic Records tweeted the release date for Lasers would be March 8, 2011.[31][32]

Confirmed Tracks

I'm Beamin'

The Show Goes On

Words I Never Said (feat. Skylar Grey)

Shining Down (feat. Matthew Santos)

Singles

On October 26, 2010, the official first single from Lasers, "The Show Goes On" premiered on Lupe's official website.[33] It was produced by Kane Beatz and interpolates Modest Mouse's "Float On" as part of the chorus. The music video for the single premiered on Lupe's official website on Christmas day, December 25, 2010.[34]

Lupe Fiasco himself has confirmed that the next official single from Lasers will be "Words I Never Said."[35] The song is produced by Alex Da Kid and will feature singer-songwriter Skylar Grey.[36]

The songs "All Black Everything" and "Beautiful Lasers" are confirmed to be on the album http://rapradar.com/2011/01/24/lupe-fiasco-speaks-on-nex-single/

References

  1. ^ http://www.lupefiasco.com/blog/words-i-never-said-teaser/
  2. ^ Lupe Fiasco to Release 'The Great American Rap Album'.
  3. ^ Trailer: Lupe Fiasco - 'LASERS'. Rap-Up.
  4. ^ Lupe Fiasco - Shining Down feat. Matthew Santos (Live Snippet)
  5. ^ Lupe Fiasco feat. Mathew Santos - Shining Down Full/Low Quality. Nah Right.
  6. ^ LupEND News - "Shining Down" Will Be The First Single.
  7. ^ http://yaheardhiphop.blogspot.com/2009/06/shining-down-cdq.html
  8. ^ Lupe Talks About The Shining Down Leak
  9. ^ Matthew Santos' Twitter.
  10. ^ Shining Down [Explicit. Amazon.
  11. ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 - Shining Down - Lupe Fiasco Featuring Mathew Santos". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2009-08-07. [dead link]
  12. ^ *UPDATE* - "I'm Beamin" Record. Lupe Fiasco.
  13. ^ LupeFiasco twitter
  14. ^ Lupe Fiasco interview with The Doctor. Triple J radio 2010-02-04. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2815727.htm Retrieved 2010-02-10
  15. ^ LUPE FIASCO - THE L.A.S.E.R.S. MANIFESTO. YouTube.
  16. ^ [1] NahRight
  17. ^ [2] LupE.N.D. Blog
  18. ^ Lupe Fiasco - I'm Beamin on YouTube
  19. ^ [3] "@LupeFiasco"
  20. ^ http://hiphop-n-more.com/2010/12/second-single-from-lupe-fiascos-lasers-revealed/
  21. ^ http://hiphop-n-more.com/2011/01/trey-songz-uk-rapper-sway-to-make-appearances-on-lupe-fiascos-lasers/
  22. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2011/01/10/lupe-fiasco-preps-controversial-single/
  23. ^ http://adwiin-music.com/?p=3092
  24. ^ http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/gowhere-hip-hop/2010/07/lupe-fiasco-lasers-petition-leads-new-music-update.html
  25. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11771/title.dx-news-bits-kid-cudi-lupe-fiasco
  26. ^ "Lupe Fiasco fans demand more music". CNN.
  27. ^ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/20100727/fiasco__lupe.jhtml
  28. ^ http://www.fiascofriday.com
  29. ^ http://rapradar.com/2010/09/20/lupe-fans-set-to-protest-record-label/
  30. ^ http://twitter.com/LupeFiasco/status/25092847356
  31. ^ http://twitter.com/LupeFiasco/status/26683957124
  32. ^ http://twitter.com/AtlanticRecords/status/26755064332#
  33. ^ http://lupefiasco.com/theshowgoeson/
  34. ^ http://www.lupefiasco.com/blog/world-premiere-the-show-goes-on-music-video/
  35. ^ http://hot937.radio.com/2011/01/12/lupe-fiasco-visits-the-morning-crew/
  36. ^ http://adwiin-music.com/?p=3092