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This intro features excerpts from news coverage of the Occupy movement, in which Lupe has been heavily involved. Shouts to Lupe for including an excerpt from the superb journalist Amy Goodman, host of the must-listen news program Democracy Now
Also included is a nod to the students at UC Davis protesting against police brutality and the privatization of public education. Less than a week before this tape dropped, campus cops pepper-sprayed nonviolent protesters.
Around the time they kicked us out, they had the park cleaned Lupe Fiasco – Life Death and Love From San Francisco
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The narrator inserts himself into the song for the first time here, implying that he is homeless and living outdoors in a nearby park. Alternately, this could be an up-to-date reference to the events going on at Occupy San Fransisco
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Chester “Howlin' Wolf” Burnett was one of the most influential bluesmen who ever lived. He started recording for Chess Records in the early 1950’s, and stayed with them until 1973. By that time, the once very successful label was basically defunct
And other less harmful skylarking Lupe Fiasco – Life Death and Love From San Francisco
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'Cause I'm a friend of the people Lupe Fiasco (Ft. Dayne Jordan) – Friend of the People
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“Big bro” here has a dual meaning. Most obviously, it refers to Lupe, who Dos sets up as the Jay-Z to his Kanye. However, Dos also hints at the phrase “big brother”’s more Orwellian meaning, and the “requesting…friend” language brings to mind social networking friend requests. Modern-day social networks have been used both by spy agencies and police as well as people fighting against them
Look at all these friends that marketing makes Lupe Fiasco – WWJD He'd Probably LOL Like WTF!!!
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That means it serves no other function
But to show off to someone, or others
Who only try to show off to you – look at your fellow loyal customers Lupe Fiasco – WWJD He'd Probably LOL Like WTF!!!
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Lupe elaborates here on the idea of conspicuous consumption – namely, that everyone involved in it is trying to show off to each other by acquiring the latest luxury goods, and that the showing off, and the status that goes with it, is in fact the main reason for buying the goods in the first place
The dictionary defines “conspicuous consumption” as:
[T]he act of buying a lot of things, especially expensive things that are not necessary, in a way that people notice
Maybe buy my way up out His wrath
Skeptically, why am I way up off this path?
Atheism's cheaper, and accepts Visa Lupe Fiasco – WWJD He'd Probably LOL Like WTF!!!
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The narrator wonders, if money can in fact buy everything, can it even buy him forgiveness from sin? For a while in the Middle Ages, it could.
“Good thing that God accept cash” refers to the Judao- Christian belief in charity, and collection plates at churches. The church (and the Bible) wants its members to give them money in the name of God, but that money is not always put to good use.
“Atheism’s cheaper and accepts Visa” refers back to this because
A) You can’t put a credit card in a collection plate.
B) Atheists don’t have a church asking them for money.
Also, atheists don’t believe in an after life, so they don’t have to fear God’s wrath or try to buy their way into heaven.
Match their teens' jeans and genies who try to chew gum Lupe Fiasco – WWJD He'd Probably LOL Like WTF!!!
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The promise of new Nike shoes will apparently bring out all kinds of folks. A more subtle criticism here by Lupe of grown women who try to act or dress in a self-consciously youthful way, often mirroring looks worn by their own children.
“Mom’s with teens/match their teen’s jeans” is specifically a reference to this bing commercial.
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