The Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) Songfacts reports that Fiasco’s first single off his fourth studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 debuted on May 21, 2012. On "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)," he spits rhymes about aspects of modern American life he doesn’t like such as "Suicide bombers and prosperity gospels, emaciated models, with cocaine and blood pouring out their nostrils” as well as socio-political problems in Ghana and the invasion of Iraq.
Lupe released his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth on January 20, 2015.
Lupe's 8th Studio Album DRILL MUSIC IN ZION was released on June 23rd 2022
Lupe has previously been on label Epic with his group Da Pak and then signed a solo deal with Arista. His years at Arista only led to the 2003 promo single "Pop Pop" as well as guest appearances on singles from Tha' Rayne (2002's "Kiss Me" and 2003's "Didn't You Know") and K Fox (2003's "This Life"), then Arista folded in 2004 and Lupe was signed to Atlantic Records.
Intro
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From 45th and State to the last standing Henry Horner
J&J's, Harold's Chicken, good finger lickin'
While they sin, gin, sin sin at Rothschild's and Kenwood Liquors
The winos crooked stagger
Meets the high stride of the youth searching for the truth
They rebel and raise hell across alleyways and in classroom settings
They get, high off that drum bass and 20/20 rims
They drink Hennessy, Hypnotiq and 40's
They call they women hoes, bust downs and shorties
They keep funeral homes in business and gunshot wards of hospitals full
Prisons packed, bubbling over in brown sugar
They keep empty, Westside lots crowded, hype's powdered
The well is running dry, the days of Malcolm and Martin have ended
Our hope has descended and off to the side
Waiting for the re-installment of the revolution
Because we are dying at the cost of our own pollution
But God has another solution, that has evolved from the hood
I present one who turns, the Fiasco to good
A'uzu billahi min ash shaitani r rajimi
Bismi 'llahi 'r-rahmani 'r-rahim
Dedicated, to my grandmother
Peace! And much love to you
Yeah! And it start
1st and, 15, proudly present
You know what it is
See, I got this philosophy right
I think the world, and everything in it
Is made up of a mix, of two things
You got your good, y'know, and your bad
You got your food, and your liquor
That's right, Chilly Chill!
You already know, it's a long time coming
I give you my, I give you my heart
My soul, my mind my thoughts, my feelings
My experience, nothing more, and nothing less
Yes, FNF, uh-huh! So
With no further ado
Lupe, Fiasco's, "Food & Liquor"
In Lupe Fiasco's song "Intro," he paints a vivid picture of life in the inner city. He starts off by describing the prevalence of food and liquor stores on every corner, and then moves on to highlight specific places like J&J's, Harold's Chicken, Rothschild's, and Kenwood Liquors. He juxtaposes the winos who stagger around from drinking with the youth who are searching for truth and meaning in their lives. He describes how they rebel and raise hell in alleyways and classrooms, fueled by the drum bass and rims of their cars.
Lupe then goes on to describe other aspects of inner-city life like braids, Air Force Ones, and Timbs. He mentions popular drinks like Hennessy, Hypnotiq, and 40s, and the derogatory terms that people use to refer to women. He highlights the fact that funeral homes and gunshot wards are always busy, and that prisons are overcrowded. He concludes the verse by suggesting that hope has descended, and that the days of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. are over.
Despite the bleak picture that Lupe paints, he does offer a glimmer of hope. He suggests that there is another solution that has evolved from the hood, and he presents himself as one who can turn the fiasco to good. This sets the stage for his album "Food & Liquor," which explores these themes in more depth.
Line by Line Meaning
Food and liquor stores rest on every corner
There are multiple food and liquor stores on every street corner
From 45th and State to the last standing Henry Horner
This line serves as a reference to the specific location Lupe is speaking about
J&J's, Harold's Chicken, good finger lickin'
J&J's and Harold's Chicken are popular food chains known for their delicious food
While they sin, gin, sin sin at Rothschild's and Kenwood Liquors
People go to Rothschild's and Kenwood Liquors to drink alcohol and possibly engage in sinful activities
The winos crooked stagger
People who drink too much alcohol often walk unsteadily and hunched over
Meets the high stride of the youth searching for the truth
Young people who are trying to discover their identity sometimes cross paths with those who are struggling with addiction
They rebel and raise hell across alleyways and in classroom settings
Young people express their rebelliousness by causing disturbances in both public and private spaces
They get, high off that drum bass and 20/20 rims
Concerts and cars with flashy rims are sources of enjoyment for some young people
They rock braids, Air Force Ones and Timbs
These are the most popular fashion styles among young people
They drink Hennessy, Hypnotiq and 40's
Hennessy, Hypnotiq, and 40's are commonly consumed alcoholic drinks
They call they women hoes, bust downs and shorties
Young women are referred to by derogatory and objectifying terms
They keep funeral homes in business and gunshot wards of hospitals full
The high rate of violence leads to frequent hospitalizations and burials
Prisons packed, bubbling over in brown sugar
There are too many people in the prisons, and they are overwhelmingly African American
They keep empty, Westside lots crowded, hype's powdered
Empty lands on the west side are being overtaken by advertising and raised prices, causing problems for civilians
The well is running dry, the days of Malcolm and Martin have ended
People are struggling economically and the leaders of the Civil Rights movement are no longer present
Our hope has descended and off to the side
People's hope for a better future has been postponed
Waiting for the re-installment of the revolution
People are waiting for the chance to have another civil rights movement
Because we are dying at the cost of our own pollution
The problems that people are facing are causing damage to their own community
But God has another solution, that has evolved from the hood
Religion may offer a solution to problems emerging from urban communities
I present one who turns, the Fiasco to good
Lupe Fiasco presents himself as a hero who can lead others toward positive change
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WASALU JACO, UNKNOWN, CHRISTOPHER EDDY PAULTRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind