Hip Hop Saved My Life

"Hip-Hop Saved My Life"
Single by Lupe Fiasco featuring Nikki Jean
from the album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
Released March 18, 2008
Recorded 2007
Genre Alternative hip hop
Length 4:03
Label 1st & 15th / Atlantic
Writer(s) Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (Lupe Fiasco), N. Jean, Soundtrakk
Producer(s) Soundtrakk
Lupe Fiasco featuring Nikki Jean singles chronology
"Superstar"
(2007)
"Hip Hop Saved My Life"
(2008)
"Paris, Tokyo"
(2008)

"Hip-Hop Saved My Life" is a viral video[1] single from Lupe Fiasco's second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. The track features the lead singer of the Indie/Hip hop group, Nouveau Riche, Nikki Jean. Although the song had a music video, it achieved most of its popularity on the internet and through word of mouth- being an underground or "street single" with little radio airplay or advertisement.

Content

The single is a heartfelt song that tells the story of an underground rap artist, his personal problems, and his struggle and desire to achieve success. The rapper composes a song with a doggerel structure and a hook, "Somethin', somethin', somethin' / Stack that Cheese", street slang for making money. Author Charlotte Pence argues that Fiasco achieves simple complexity in the song, rebelling against simplistic lyrics while simultaneously exploiting them.[2]

It was revealed on MTV that the song was based on rapper Slim Thug's career but also dedicated to Bun B.[3]

Music video

The music video, directed by Houston's own Dr. Teeth was released on March 18, 2008. The video recounts the story of a young up-and-coming rapper and the obstacles he struggles to overcome. The video includes appearances by Slim Thug, Willie D, Nikki Jean, K-Rino, Paul Wall, and Bun B with Lupe Fiasco. In one scene towards the beginning of the video, a clip from the video for "Superstar" (another one of Fiasco's songs) can briefly be seen playing on a television set.

Chart performance

It has first appeared on Billboard as of May 31, charting at #25 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, then peaking at #20 a week later.[4]

References

  1. Reid, Shaheem; Rodriguez, Jayson (January 28, 2008). "Mixtape Monday: Lupe Fiasco Plans His Cool Viral Video; Joe Budden Compares Jay-Z To A 'Bully'". MTV.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  2. Pence, Charlotte (2011). The Poetics of American Song Lyrics. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 14–16. ISBN 978-1-61703-156-4.
  3. Rodriguez, Jayson; Dotiwala, Jasmine (April 11, 2008). "Lupe Fiasco's Latest Single, 'Hip-Hop Saved My Life,' Honors Southern Rap Heroes Bun B, Slim Thug". MTV.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.

External links


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