Lupe Fiasco revealed some of what he went through on his label Atlantic Records.
The rapper has been critical of Atlantic and music exec Lyor Cohen for much of his career, and earlier this week he told fans how bad things were for him there.
The tweets come after the Chicago raised rhymer said he was the most blackballed artist of all time and also implied that he'd be retiring.
This tho...
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
LoI once asked Lyor for my masters in exchange for signing a 360 deal & he said “Do I want them like in a suitcase to carry around?” A greatest hit from Among all the other wild shit some of these white record execs have said 2 me with a straight face in private. https://t.co/gh7z9osd7d
He then followed it up with “If you don’t sign it i cant guarantee we are still gonna promote your albums.”
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
From that point forward i knew my career was over lol.
This is all 100% true with witnesses. Hahaha... https://t.co/aSpVsl0qFL
I don’t know if he was shocked that I knew the 360 Program Atlantic had didn’t really add any value to an artist at the time and the only real equity was the music IP (masters) because the million dollar advances were just instant debt or what. It was surreal https://t.co/IuTfJD0ZSG
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
It’s not that clear though. Becuz its dudes legit poor coming into these labels and a million dollar advance is life changing. People prey on that. So it’s not necessarily a knowledge issue it’s a “Pay my bills by any means necessary” type issue even if it means signing some shit https://t.co/8zcT9pIcJz
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
I didn’t sign it. I’m not ignorant at all. I started my first business at 19. Plus the music business atleast what i went through at Atlantic wasnt a business it was damn near a mob cartel. Real grimey Gangsta shit. I had $ so i didnt really care. I was speaking on other artists https://t.co/FOaWB2LSfC
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
Basically lol...this was right after the cool went gold...and y’all know the history after that lol...it was a bloodbath https://t.co/DrVbRgehsm
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
I would’ve stopped making music after the cool.
— “DROGAS WAVE” NOW PLAYING (@LupeFiasco) February 11, 2019
But my OG Big U called me out the blue and said as a Muslim and a as man I had to fulfill my obligations that I signed my name to no matter the costs. Basically boss up and get through it and rebuild once your out. 💪🏾 https://t.co/jHptAAmFMH
Do you feel bad for Lupe, or is he to blame for signing a bad contract in the first place?