As is custom for when someone passes away, Lupe’s father was buried. However—sort of like Simba with Mufasa—Lu still sees his dad everytime he looks up into the night sky.

The spiritual implications of this line are similar, as well, to a verse from a previous ode to his father, “Fighters”:

Damn, I really miss my Pops
Hope that God watches over him and that he’s on top
That there is no more disease, and that he’s all right
That he’s one of the generals inside of the army of the light

Perhaps a reference to Kanye West’s “See Me Now”, a bonus track off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy on which Sean also has the final verse

“What’s up?”, in Spanish slang. I guess Nas really is bilingual!

Skylar Grey previously received a Grammy nomination for co-writing the smash hit “Love the Way You Lie”.

This hook (as well as the original song) was made for her grandfather who passed away, but Lupe decided to turn the message into a more political one.

Lupe, a devout Muslim, hopes that his plan to help out his people fulfills the commandments of God (The Man Up Above), and further dedicates his music towards both the underprivileged as well as to Allah.

Now that Lupe has landed a record deal and has no reason to deal drugs, he can use his success and the money he is now receiving to help elevate the poverty-stricken people from his city.

Specifically, ‘Cuff my homies’ alludes to the fact that he will provide his friend with things free of charge and make it so that they will be not have to steal and eventually be cuffed by the police.