Hip Hop Saved My Life
"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 vocals from Nikki Jean, the lead singer of Nouveau Riche.
| "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 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (Lupe Fiasco), N. Jean, Soundtrakk | |||
| Producer(s) | Soundtrakk | |||
| Lupe Fiasco featuring Nikki Jean singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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 partially based on the life and career of Southern rapper Slim Thug and 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
- 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.
- Pence, Charlotte (2011). The Poetics of American Song Lyrics. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 14–16. ISBN 978-1-61703-156-4.
- 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.