Lupe Fiasco: Not Retiring From the Rap Game Just Yet

Reid Rolls

Chicago-bred rapper Lupe Fiasco has long hinted of wanting to take an early retirement, citing his dissatisfaction with the major label system and disappointment with the modern day record-making process, but it was only recently that his exhortations took on a new seriousness.

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At the heart of his current crisis of conscience is a beef with fellow Chicago rapper Chief Keef, which began after Lupe shared his views on the artist during an interview. Lupe told Baltimore's 92Q that "Chief Keef scares me... not him specifically, but just the culture that he represents." After a series of harsh retorts from Chief Keef (who says his twitter account was hacked), Lupe tweeted, "This album will probably be my last... its been a pleasure."

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But in spite of his declaration, at a Wednesday night performance at the Hollywood Palladium, as part of Big Boy's Block Party (alongside Detroit rapper Big Sean), his actions proved otherwise. Inspiration, he explained from the stage, came from a fan on the brink of suicide, who approached him saying that his music "saved her life."

And following that cue, the 30-year-old conscious MC performed an amped-up version of his song "Hip-Hop Saved My Life" to a packed house of faithful worshipers.

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Delivering a 45-minute set that included rock-leaning tracks from his 2012 release Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1, he also obliged with a few of his classics like "Words I Never Said" and "Kick, Push."

Clearly enjoying the adoration and the anything goes club atmosphere, it looks like for Lupe, the show will go on. 

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