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You see what I'm saying Lupe Fiasco – Failure

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This plays into the blindness theme as they obviously can’t “see” if they’re blind.

Also, Sayin' = Saiyan (DragonBall Z reference, saiyans are warriors who ‘push ki’), a nasty double entendre that ties to the triple entendre on the next line.

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11 years

I think he also is referring to the fact that you can’t see what someone says, but since its Braille you can obviously see it?

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Failure Lupe Fiasco – Failure

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Exemplary lyricism from the Fahrenheit 1st & 15th mixtape. The title of the song is a play on the meaning of Lupe’s stage name “Fiasco”, meaning “failure” in Latin

Rap Genius thinks Lu is being too modest about himself here, though, since it took us forever to explain this one!

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He Say She Say Lupe Fiasco (Ft. GemStones & Sarah Green) – He Say She Say

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Lupe Fiasco’s melancholic warning off Food & Liquor of the consequences of a father abandoning his family. The song represents the beginning of the Cool saga that prevails on his second album The Cool concerning Michael Young History, who is the “little boy” described in the lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byV0GUg7w4U

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And then, they all take the stage and start performing for me
Like, "Ha, ha, ha-ha-ha"
"Ha, ha, ha-ha-ha, ha" Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Matthew Santos) – Superstar

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In Lupe’s ideal world, the fans would be the ones performing onstage at concerts, with Lupe simply bearing witness to the positivity he inspired.

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[Chorus: Matthew Santos & Lupe Fiasco] Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Matthew Santos) – Superstar

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Matthew Santos' vocals here were often compared by critics to that of Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin, as well as to Adam Levine’s guest crooning on Kanye’s “Heard ‘Em Say” from the previous year

In many respects, the catchy hook is what made this song a radio hit, and it’s considered the “breakthrough” single for both Matt and Lupe.

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1,172

5 years

This is my Teacher From Columbia College Chicago

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379

6 years

I think the chorus could be hinting at the MYH story as well. Like Lupe trying to say that he isn’t just talking about himself and the fans want a show (dope rhymes).

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Wanna believe my own hype, but it's too untrue
The world brought me to my knees; "What have you brung? You?
Did you improve on a design? Did you do something new?
Well, your name ain't on the guest list, who brung you?
You—the more famous person—you come through
And the sexy lady next to you, you come too!" Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Matthew Santos) – Superstar

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Lupe recalls a story wherein he’s denied entrance to a club of some sort due to the presumed bouncer deeming him irrelevant. The guard condescendingly asks Lupe if he’s done anything noteworthy to be allowed entrance to the club, then proceeds to dismiss him regardless.

Considering the previous line and the theme of the song, it’s likely that this club is a metaphor for stardom while the bouncer represents the music industry. It seemed as if Lupe’s career was off to a great start in the beginning. He was cosigned by many hip hop icons and had a four-time Grammy nominated debut album; the hype surrounding him was unbelievable or “too untrue.”

However, just when it seemed he was about to become a mainstream success, he was abruptly halted and belittled (i.e., “bought to his knees”) by the industry and turned away in favor of a more conventional celebrity and their trophy wife. This may be a subtle nod to the objectification of women in celebrity culture, of which Lupe has been critical of in songs like 2012’s “Bitch Bad.”

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Lupe recalls a story wherein he's denied entrance to a club of some sort due to the presumed bouncer deeming him irrelevant. The guard condescendingly asks Lupe if he's done anything noteworthy to be allowed entrance to the club, then proceeds to dismiss him regardless.

Considering the [previous line](https://genius.com/26549768) and the theme of the song, it's likely that this club is a metaphor for stardom while the bouncer represents the music industry. It seemed as if Lupe's career was off to a great start in the beginning. He was cosigned by many hip hop icons and had a four-time Grammy nominated [debut album](https://genius.com/albums/Lupe-fiasco/Lupe-fiasco-s-food-liquor); the hype surrounding him was unbelievable or "too untrue."

However, just when it seemed he was about to become a mainstream success, he was abruptly halted and belittled (i.e., "bought to his knees") by the industry and turned away in favor of a more conventional celebrity and their [trophy wife.](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trophy%20wife) This may be a subtle nod to the objectification of women in celebrity culture, of which Lupe has been critical of in songs like 2012's ["Bitch Bad."](https://genius.com/Lupe-fiasco-bitch-bad-lyrics?bagon=1)

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3 years

What it’s missing is the truth. Truth is no matter what good deeds you’ve done if you lack a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ that will be why you’re rejected. You rejected God and the sacrifice he made for you through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. It’s that simple, you can’t do it on your own and God did it for you because he loves you and once you understand that and humbly accept that love you’re saved.

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312

8 years

“The WORD brought me to my knees” not WORLD. Lupe, a devout Muslim, is referencing Holy Scriptures that have inspired him to seek help from God. This contrasts those who seek to do things by themselves (what have you brung you?) This fits in perfectly with the themes presented in the song.

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231

11 years

The line “Wanna believe my own hype but it’s too untrue”
-I think it’s the actual vibe on earth, the exxagerated false images from the media, people living recklessly and not fearing God.
“The world brought me to my knees, what have you brung you?”
People and temptation from the devil got the better of him, and he’s a victim.
“Did you improve on the design, did you do something new?”
As much as the devil’s design deceived Adam and Eve(who were perfect) so history repeats itself. As now it’s how people are living(did you do something new?).
“And the sexy lady next to you, YOU COME TOO”
It’s the lady that he fornicates with so as to be rejected in heaven

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Now those the type of eyes I not cry from
You see the tears of fire run out my crying songs Lupe Fiasco – I'm Beamin'

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Much like Jay-Z, Lupe lets his songs express the emotion he feels inside, and his fans feel the same way he does. The song’s “tears” are fire because Lupe spits hot lyrics

Come to think of it, “tears of fire” sounds terribly painful…

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10 years

Senay

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chet

10 years

or he was talking about eye hortilux light bulbs that he grew weed with that would keep his house warm

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11 years

It also carries on the reference to stove tops from before – A stove top"eye" would cry fire.

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So I'mma force my will
Like the Force I wield
Of course you will Lupe Fiasco – Failure

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In Star Wars the powerful Jedi can do a “Jedi Mind Trick” to make weaker creatures willingly obey them

Also in what has come to be known as “Yoda Speak”, in which the internal order of sentences is often inverted, “I wield the Force” = “The Force, I wield.” This continues the Star Wars theme

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Rather be in FEDS instead of National Geographics
Well, I’m not having it, nawwww Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Matthew Santos) – Shining Down

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According to Lupe, people would rather read FEDS, a magazine that glorifies rappers and gives breakdowns on gangs & inner-city violence, instead of educational material like National Geographic

Lupe’s response – “HELL no!”

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212

11 years

Notice that the line also sounds like
“Rather being feds instead of National Geographics”

It is a critic that “his people” would rather be be fed (information, lifestyle, fashion) as opposed to having a critical investigative mind (like National Geographic)

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We’ll wrap this around your head
Like the bandanas Fabolous used to wrap his hats with Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Matthew Santos) – Shining Down

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In a world of Soulja Boys and Waka Flocka Flames, Lupe can be the intellectual bandana around the hat of the rap game (yeah, it’s a weird metaphor)

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Marked this as missing something ?

4 years

Lu could be continuing the circular lines by saying to wrap it AROUND your head. Lu wants the listener, wether friend or foe, to grasp, or wrap their minds around, what he’s saying. Simply that it’s not him who needs to change. It’s the rap industry.

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