http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2011/03/lupe_fiasco_does_what_hes_told.html

But I think the misunderstanding derives from two conversations happening in this thread. While we agree about the current situation for Lupe, I don't know that it changes the relevance of the choice he had prior to signing.

Of course, context is key. As I recall, Lupe had a great buzz before signing with Atlantic. If one believes he could have parlayed that popularity into success independently, I imagine there would be little disagreement that he should have avoided a major. Of course, there's no guarantee that a few years ago, he could have taken that popularity as Drake did (or Wiz Khalifa currently has) and make himself into a big name off his own work without signing to a label, or even that he had the business acumen to do so. Thus, a major may have effectively been his only choice to make his music and get any sort of popular distribution, and I wouldn't begrudge him for that decision.

Of coures, I like to think artists are more entrepreneurial than that. I'd like to think they have the ability do much of what they want on their own because they have the desire and drive to do so, and can survive without a major, if the conditions are right. I think, with Lupe's popularity before signing, he could have struck out on his own. But I imagine that is an overly rosy picture of the music industry, certainly of the time when Lupe signed.

As a note, I don't presume to understand anything about the music industry more than anyone on this forum who has direct experience with the industry. I'm just applying what seems most logical, given the information that I have or seems reasonable to assume. Thus, if any assertion I make appears to be based on an assumption that is wrong, please let me know!

freshkest said:
Disappointed in you eso, especially after I know you read Thes' first newsletter: http://pl70.net/v1/
I

Disappointed how? Disappointed in that I can understand Lupe's situation and you can't? Regardless of who schooled him on the ins and outs of the music industry, he has signed a contract to make music for Atlantic. If that contract has a set number of albums he must create/release then he has to fulfill the contract. I remember his vision for his career was to create three albums. Food & Liquor was pretty much done when he got to Atlantic. It was his vision. The Cool was his vision as well. When The Cool didn't sell like he wanted it, the record label probably decided to take control of the third album to attempt to get their money back. Thus forcing their way on him for Lasers. At this point, "no" is not an option when they have said "yes" for two albums.

So when you say he has a choice, what's that choice? Just walk away from making music because he doesn't like the beats they are giving him? Leave his debt with Atlantic behind that he created when you didn't sell what he was projected/supposed to? Leave the 3+ years he spent crafting and fighting for Lasers behind? Because if his contract with Atlantic is like any other contract then he couldn't release music under the Lupe Fiasco name because anything he did release would be claimed by Atlantic and used to clear his debt with them. Should he rebrand himself under Japanese Cartoon? Should he change his name Fupe Liasco? Simply making a blank statement like "um, how about simply saying no" is short minded and you should know better. Put yourself in their shoes and see if you come up with the same answer.

I agree the music industry is a soulless machine that really nothing good comes out of. Even if you're not signed to a major you still get dicked around by those smaller labels trying to make their buck, see PUTS & OM Records. I commend Thes and Double K for going out and creating their own market for us to purchase music from. In some ways, the reason I love PUTS so much is because they are doing what me and my music partners should have done but didn't. Besides, if simply saying no were so easy, it wouldn't have taken Thes and Double K 12+ years, 7 full length albums, 1 EP and countless 12 inch releases to set up this store/movement now would it?

ahah... great video. feeling the Prince Paul cameo!

So anyways, I'll leave you with this video by the rugged man himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO45e9SwKgI

There are plenty of independent artists who do well and work on their own terms. See PUTS. Lupe has the fan base and the connections to make it happen outside of Atlantic. But it depends on his goals. If he is trying to make a superstar jam that is going to get tons of radio play and publicity, working with Atlantic is the way to go. If you want to have more control, working independently or with a more permissive label is the way to go. There is very clearly a choice.

freshkest said:
umm... how about simply saying 'no'?

oh, you're going by the literal meaning of "choice" then. Saying no probably means not having your album come out, getting dropped and being on the hook for your advance money. So again, in the real world, where's the choice?

freshkest said:
No one is force fed anything.
All these so-called rappers have choices.

I disagree. Have you read any interviews he has given about the album? In one of them he states that the record exec gave him the music and hook for "Show Goes On" and he was told to write his rhymes to it, that it was going to be the single. Where's the choice in that?