Hip-Hop Saved My Life
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

He said: "I write what I see
The rapper expresses his desire to report on what he experiences and highlight what needs to be changed.

Write to make it right, don't like where I be
Lupe relates his drive to use his art to improve his own existence and that of his community.

I'd like to make it like the sights on TV
He longs for the glamorous and easy lifestyle of rappers shown on television and music videos.

Quite the great life, so nice and easy"
He believes this type of life is ideal, despite recognizing it's not realistic or necessarily attainable.

See: now you can still die from that
He acknowledges that rapping isn't a magic bullet that will eliminate all problems or dangers, but it's a path with fewer risks and more opportunities than selling drugs or resorting to violence.

But it's better than not being alive from straps
Although not perfect, pursuing a career in hip-hop is the safer and smarter choice compared to dying due to guns, which is a prevalent problem in his neighborhood.

Agreed, a Mead notebook and a Bic
He agrees that all you need is a cheap notebook and pen to write songs, and a simple beat to build upon musically, and highlights the accessible and low-cost nature of hip-hop.

That click when it's pushed and a wack-ass beat
Lupe emphasizes the importance of finding inspiration from an underwhelming or uninspiring beat, and using it as a foundation to build upon.

That's a track that's weak that he got last week
Instead of rejecting a poor-quality beat, Lupe uses it as an opportunity to write something better.

Cause everybody in the stu' was like: "That's that heat!"
The other people in the studio praised his creation, despite its humble beginnings, showing how the art can be nurtured and improved in a collaborative environment.

A bass-heavy medley with a sample from the 70s
The song in question is a combination of multiple musical elements, including a sample from a different era, that was reimagined to make it more contemporary.

With a screwed-up hook that went "stack that cheese"
Lupe uses the example of a catchy hook about stacking money to emphasize how hooks can be simple and repetitive yet still have a profound impact.

Something something something, "stack that cheese"
The hook is repeated several times, signifying the importance of having memorable and instantly recognizable hooks in popular music.

Mother, sister, cousin, "stack that cheese"
Lupe shows how something as simple and catchy as a hook can be shared and recognized by his relatives.

He couldn't think of nothin', "stack that cheese"
The repetition of the hook is used again to show how it can fill any lyrical gaps and be used even when lacking creativity.

He turns down the beat, writer's block impedes
Lupe shows how sometimes the creative process can be hampered, resulting in writer's block and frustration.

Crying from the next room, a baby in need
The song takes a somber turn as Lupe references a baby in need of basic necessities, unlike his own artistic struggles, highlighting the contrast between perceived problems and those that truly matter.

Of some Pampers and some food and place to sleep
Lupe emphasizes how basic and fundamental these baby needs are, further highlighting how his own artistic struggles pale in comparison.

That plus a black Cadillac on Ds
He mentions material possessions that seem out of reach, again bringing in the element of seeking wealth and a glamorous lifestyle.

Is what keep him on track to be a great MC
Against all odds and real-world issues, the rapping dream is what keeps him motivated to excel and be a success.

One you never heard of, I
Lupe highlights his relative anonymity compared to more successful rappers.

Push it hard to further the
He pushes himself to keep working and improving.

Grind, might feel like murder, but
The hard work feels tough and arduous but is ultimately a means to an end.

Hip-Hop you saved my life
Through metaphors and a creative lens, Lupe credits hip-hop as the reason he's still alive and on a positive path.

Reps North-side, so he rocks them braids
The rapper aligns himself with the North side of his city and its culture, such as wearing braids.

1100 friends on his Myspace page
Lupe quantifies his online presence and social network, indicating that although he's relatively unknown, he's building a fanbase.

"Stack That Cheese" got 700 plays
He references his catchy hook again, this time highlighting how popular it became online.

Producer made him take it down, said he had to pay
Despite the apparent fame, the song was still not monetizable and showed how the industry could still take advantage of upcoming artists.

Open mic champ 2 weeks in a row
Lupe shows he still has to prove himself as a great rapper, and describes a small victory he achieved at an open mic event.

Ex d-Boy with a b-boy flow
He highlights his former past as a former drug dealer in contrast to his current artistic identity.

Glow like Leroy, you should see the boy go
He compares himself to a fictional character, Leroy, which helps to describe his talent and energy level.

Got a daddy serving life and a brother on the Row
Lupe has family members that are incarcerated for life, which motivates him to seek a better life and use his talents to help others.

Best homie in the grave, tatted up while in the cage
Another close friend of his has died, while a prisoner friend has tattoos that can't be erased, as a stark contrast to his own struggle.

Minute Maid got his momma working like a slave
Lupe references his mom's hard work as an example of the challenges faced by women in poor communities.

Down baby-momma, who he really had to honor
He mentions another significant woman in his life, and how important it is for him to provide and show respect to her.

Cause she was his biggest fan, even let him use her Honda to
He shows appreciation for his girlfriend, who not only believed in his career but also helped him to achieve it.

Drive up to Dallas, went to open up for amateurs
He emphasizes the importance of starting small, performing and building his portfolio.

Let him keep a debit card so he could put gas in it
His girlfriend provides the means for him to travel to different events by giving him access to a debit card.

Told her when he get on he gon' take her to the Galleria
Through his lyrics, he promises to reward his girlfriend with a shopping trip to a luxury mall once he's successful.

And buy everything but the mannequins, ya dig?
He humorously explains that he can't buy the mannequins because they're not for sale!

His man called, said: "your time might be now
He describes the moment when he first hears that his music is being noticed and might have the potential to take him somewhere.

They played your freestyle over 'Wipe Me Down'
His approach of telling his story, struggles and hustle in his music seemed to resonate with the listeners, which led to his music being played on the radio.

They played it 2 times, say it might be crowned
After positive reactions, the radio station deemed it worthy of even more airtime, and alluded to the possibility of him receiving a music award.

As the best thing out the H-town in a while"
He's praised and acknowledged as one of the better and more promising rappers to come out of his city in a while.

He picked up his son with a great big smile
Once again he references his son and how proud and happy he felt, showing how fatherhood played a big role in his life.

Rapped every single word to the newborn child
He uses his musical talent to share his art and message with those closest to him, such as his newborn.

Then he put him down and went back to the kitchen
He shows that although his life is rapidly changing, some things stay the same.

And put on another beat and got back to the mission of
After reconnecting with his family, he jumped right back into his music career and his creative pursuit of the art.

Get his momma out the hood, put her somewhere in the woods
He reveals a significant personal goal to lift his mom out of poverty and move her somewhere with more space and a better quality of life.

Keep his lady looking good, have her rolling like she should
He wants to provide for his girlfriend and make sure she's treated well, feeling and looking great.

Show his homies there's a way other than that flippin' yay
He wants to inspire and show his friends that there's a path based on creativity, talent and hard work, instead of relying on drugs and violence.

Bail his homie out of jail, put a lawyer on his case
He wants to help his friend not only on a personal level, but also make sure he receives the proper legal support.

Throw a concert for the school, show the shorties that it's cool
He wants to give back to his community by performing at a concert in a school, inspiring young people to take up hip-hop and see it as a positive pursuit.

Throw some candy on the Caddy, chuck the deuce and act a fool
He wants to buy a nice candy-painted car to celebrate his success and enjoy his newfound wealth in a positive way.

Man it feels good, when it happens like that
He shows gratitude for his success and appreciate the support and recognition he's received.

Two days from going back to selling crack, yessir
He recognizes that he's gone from a very difficult and uncertain alternative of selling drugs to becoming a successful and lauded rapper in just a few short years.