Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois), better … Read Full Bio ↴Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop artist and producer. He first became known to the mainstream hip-hop community in 2005 when he appeared on Kanye West's album Late Registration on the track "Touch the Sky." In 2006 Lupe released his debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor on Atlantic Records, and in December 2007 he released his second full length album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool . His next studio album, entitled Lasers, was released on March 8th 2011 after a protest against Atlantic's decision not to release it.

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.

Lupe the Killer
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Unh! I bring you murder in the first
And even as we speak we gettin further in this verse
With no further adieu I do what I respect
Doom got me stripes like Hamburgler for my work
Ask Lupe the killa, killa, killa, killa
Mercy, he's a mess! So immersed in his murk
He's two thirds submerged below the surface where they surf
This is where I lay it down like a bird givin birth

So call me Lu the giant's goose or just, Faberge paint
Til I'm called back to the shore by the watchers of the bay
I wait, til I come back like a tsunami
Never microwave like the watchers of the weight
I'm wrapped in aluminum foil, I do my dirt like Kwame
Until that same soil bein pushed into my grave
But I'm so ahead of my time, the next day
Might strike oil while I delay, homie I'm so crude
Texas T, haters is so screwed
But I can't fill it like a flathead in a Philips
Don't get it twisted, nigga I'm no tool
More cool than a pool in a blizzard
With ice cubes in it during Christmas
Meanin there's no school, in the misfit
Like I'm throwin a fit
Or I just can't fit it, tidbit too big
It's gotta hem it til it's fresh to death
Dressed to kill it, like unh!

Unh! 187 on my second, I reckon
This is an assault with a deadly session
A soft peace and blessins to the sentence that be reppin
All across in every direction, locality, and section
That know Lupe the killa, killa, killa, killa
Give it how I live it most niggaz won't believe
Or achieve how I did it most niggaz won't recieve
Til I leave and I bereave the secrets of my sickness
How I, flooded the streets like Venice
I've suffered, demanded, withstanded, pimp handed and hustlin
I'm Colonel Mustard with the speech
They ain't catchin me, no suspicions of stickin
No convictions on my rap sheet
I'm so committin lay my murder game, that's sweet
Speakeasy like Prohibition, no emission
If you ain't knockin like me to the underground bar, buryin a toast
Dodgin the raid like roach, nigga please

Unh! I make it give up the ghost
On the trifecta, the third, I differ
Nigga, you ain't heard? My lecture like Lector
Letcha in on a secret, but you can't leak it
Lupe's the killa, killa, killa, killa
Since my entrance, my niggaz had packs
They moved 'em to a trap like Winston
Far from bustas, baby nah
All my homies henchmen
I was the rhymer, my talk went through the walls like Slimer
Or like, eatin vagina
Or, a stray bullet, whichever ways I put it
Crooks was hooked like crooks through neighborhoods I pushed it
Little Caesar niggaz pizzas was like book it
Delivery mean like Leroy Green
They couldn't take it to the places I took it
Beware, you don't look it

You ain't dressed for this affair
I'm hooded in the bushes like unh!

Overall Meaning

"Lupe the Killer" by Lupe Fiasco is a rap song that mainly focuses on how Lupe is an excellent lyricist in the rap game. In the first verse, he asserts that he has murderous lyrics and takes pride in being a killer. He shows how he is submerged in his murk, which is a metaphor for his personal experience, and lays it out as if he is laying an egg anyway. The line "So call me Lu the giant's goose or just, Faberge paint" is both weird and cryptic, but it seems to be referring to how he is such a good egg layer.

In the second verse, he makes references to criminal activity: "187 on my second, I reckon / This is an assault with a deadly session." He goes on to mention the secrets of his success, including his ability to flood the streets with his music like Venice, and references a number of underground criminal activities in his rhyming.

Overall, "Lupe the Killer" is a self-affirming song in which Lupe Fiasco asserts his superiority as an artist in the rap world, using violent and criminal imagery to make his point.

Line by Line Meaning

Unh! I bring you murder in the first
I am going to make a statement with this song that is bold and definitive

And even as we speak we gettin further in this verse
As I rap, I am going to take you deeper and deeper into my thoughts

With no further adieu I do what I respect
I am going to keep things straightforward and honest because that is what I believe in

Doom got me stripes like Hamburgler for my work
I have been recognized for my hard work and dedication, just like a police officer is recognized with stripes on their uniform

Ask Lupe the killa, killa, killa, killa
People associate me with being a killer in the rap game

Mercy, he's a mess! So immersed in his murk
People see me as being very serious and committed to my craft, so much so that it can be seen as obsessive

He's two thirds submerged below the surface where they surf
I am deeply invested in the rap game, to the point where it feels like I am underwater trying to bring something to the surface

This is where I lay it down like a bird givin birth
I am putting my all into this song, just like a bird puts their all into laying an egg

So call me Lu the giant's goose or just, Faberge paint
Call me whatever you want, as long as you understand that I am bringing something valuable to the table

Til I'm called back to the shore by the watchers of the bay
My time as a rapper will come to an end, but until then I will put everything I have into it

I wait, til I come back like a tsunami
When I return with new music, it will be a powerful force that cannot be ignored

Never microwave like the watchers of the weight
I am not interested in shortcutting my way to success like those who use quick fad diets to lose weight

I'm wrapped in aluminum foil, I do my dirt like Kwame
I am committed to being the best rapper I can be, even if it means trying unconventional strategies

Until that same soil bein pushed into my grave
I will continue to rap until the day I die

But I'm so ahead of my time, the next day
My music is innovative and ahead of its time

Might strike oil while I delay, homie I'm so crude
I am not worried about getting rich quick because I have confidence in my music

Texas T, haters is so screwed
I am from Texas and anyone who doubts me is going to be proven wrong

But I can't fill it like a flathead in a Philips
There are some things I cannot do, just like trying to use the wrong tool to fix something

Don't get it twisted, nigga I'm no tool
I am not someone you can use to get ahead, I have my own goals and agenda

More cool than a pool in a blizzard
I am very calm and composed even in the most difficult of situations

With ice cubes in it during Christmas
Even when things are supposed to be happy and joyous, I remain cool and collected

Meanin there's no school, in the misfit
Being an outsider has taught me valuable lessons that cannot be learned in a traditional setting

Like I'm throwin a fit
I am not just rebelling for the sake of rebelling, I have a purpose for my actions

Or I just can't fit it, tidbit too big
Sometimes the world is not ready for what I have to offer, but eventually they will be

It's gotta hem it til it's fresh to death
I am willing to work on something until it is perfect before releasing it to the world

Dressed to kill it, like unh!
I am always willing to put in the hard work to make my music the best it can be

Unh! 187 on my second, I reckon
I am going to bring some realness to this song

This is an assault with a deadly session
My rap game is deadly and I am not to be underestimated

A soft peace and blessins to the sentence that be reppin
I am showing respect to those who came before me and helped pave the way for my success

All across in every direction, locality, and section
I am not just a rapper for one city or region, but for everyone

That know Lupe the killa, killa, killa, killa
People know me for being a skilled and deadly rapper

Give it how I live it most niggaz won't believe
I am living my life fully and completely, which most people cannot even comprehend

Or achieve how I did it most niggaz won't recieve
Most people are not able to achieve the same level of success as me, even if they try

Til I leave and I bereave the secrets of my sickness
I will take my secrets to the grave and they will never be fully understood

How I, flooded the streets like Venice
My music has influenced and reached a large number of people, just like a flood

I've suffered, demanded, withstanded, pimp handed and hustlin
I have been through a lot to get where I am today, and I had to work hard and hustle to succeed

I'm Colonel Mustard with the speech
I have a commanding presence on the microphone and people listen to what I have to say

They ain't catchin me, no suspicions of stickin
People are not able to pin any negative labels on me because I am always one step ahead

No convictions on my rap sheet
I have never been found guilty of any wrongdoing in my career

I'm so committin lay my murder game, that's sweet
I am committed to my craft and will do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it means being very aggressive

Speakeasy like Prohibition, no emission
I keep my work and personal life separate, just like how people would have had to keep their drinking hidden during Prohibition

If you ain't knockin like me to the underground bar, buryin a toast
If you are not doing things the way I am doing things, you will not be successful

Dodgin the raid like roach, nigga please
I am able to avoid and overcome obstacles like a roach avoiding a predator

Unh! I make it give up the ghost
When I start rapping, everything else fades away and all the attention is on me

On the trifecta, the third, I differ
I am unique and stand out from others on the rap scene

Nigga, you ain't heard? My lecture like Lector
If you have not heard me rap before, then you do not know what you are missing

Letcha in on a secret, but you can't leak it
I am sharing something special with my audience, but they must keep it to themselves

Lupe's the killa, killa, killa, killa
I am known and respected for my skills as a rapper

Since my entrance, my niggaz had packs
From the very beginning of my career, I had a lot of supporters and followers

They moved 'em to a trap like Winston
My supporters followed me into the music industry, just like Winston Smith in the novel 1984 is followed into subversion

Far from bustas, baby nah
My crew and I are not weak or lame, we are the opposite

All my homies henchmen
My friends are my followers and workers who help me succeed

I was the rhymer, my talk went through the walls like Slimer
My words and music were able to reach beyond just the rap game, into the mainstream world

Or like, eatin vagina
Just like how everyone eats, my music is something everyone can enjoy and partake in

Or, a stray bullet, whichever ways I put it
My music is something that can hit you from out of nowhere, like a stray bullet

Crooks was hooked like crooks through neighborhoods I pushed it
My music has the power to influence people and change their ways, even crooks

Little Caesar niggaz pizzas was like book it
My music is as satisfying and enjoyable as a Little Caesars pizza

Delivery mean like Leroy Green
Just like how Leroy Green delivered justice and righteousness, my music delivers truth and honesty

They couldn't take it to the places I took it
No one before me had done what I was doing with my music, and I took it to new heights

Beware, you don't look it
I am able to disguise myself and blend in, so do not underestimate me

You ain't dressed for this affair
You are not prepared or equipped to handle what I am bringing to the table

I'm hooded in the bushes like unh!
I am waiting and watching from the shadows, ready to strike with my music like an animal in the bushes

Contributed by Liam W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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