Every year the York University Campus Life team and York
Federation of Students hold a concert for students. Last year they were able to
bring rapper Nas who called in sick for the original date but luckily
rescheduled for the disappointed students. In 2012, for frosh week, they
brought out thought provoking American rapper, Lupe Fiasco. Speaking of Nas, it
was rapper Nas’ ‘It Was Written Album’ that made Lupe gain an interest in
liking rap music. Lupe was not a fan of hip hop music because of the explicit
language and profanity. Nevertheless, when Lupe started rapping he did
lead the path that he didn’t want to go to. He became a hypocrite rapping about
cocaine, guns and degrading women in his gangster influenced rap group, ‘Da Pak’
at the age of 19. He soon realized he wanted to take his passion for rap in a
different direction. As noted as one of the pioneers of the conscious hip hop
movement, Lupe now focused his music to be more aware of the social issues in
our society and around the world. In his first album ‘Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor’, Lupe raps
about terrorism, religion, war, poverty, prostitution
and even parents. These are topics that will draw in diverse age groups
including, youth. His aim is to educate people with his attentive lyrics in his
music. Lupe also contributes charities to promote awareness. He has spread
awareness with the disastrous Haiti Earthquake, donated tents to protesters for
Occupy Wall Street and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in
Africa with other celebrities to spread awareness about the billions of people worldwide who sadly
lack access to clean drinking water. The Grammy Award winning rapper has
proven to not just fall into one genre, he loves jazz, blues and even rock
music. He has numerous side projects including, ‘Japanese Cartoon'.
The York University crowd loved Lupe
Fiasco at the 2012 York Fest. He even performed my favorite song, ‘Superstar’.
One of my favorite videos by Lupe Fiasco is ‘Bitch Bad’. Now, I work around a
lot of young kids and notice that they watch music videos that are inappropriate.
They want to be older than their age and are easily influenced by female artists
who are sexually provocative in the lyrics in their music and music videos. As
someone who wrote plays when he was younger, Lupe used his skills in theatre to
carry out in his music videos. I really enjoyed the message he set out in the ‘Bitch
Bad’ video.
When I spoke to York University
Vice-President Robert
Cerjanec, he told me that it was hard to get artists to come play music for the
students. It takes a lot of hard work and convincing. He even told me that some
Canadian artists ask for way too much money to perform. Now that is disappointing.
Canadian artists should support students. President and official spokesperson
for the York Federation of Students Vanessa
Hunt told me that you have to balance university life and she wants to welcome students
to the York University student life. Vice-President of Campus Life Jessica
Thyriar, who coordinates York Federation of Students events, was super excited to have Lupe Fiasco
perform at her school because she is a super fan. Well Jessica, you will be
happy to know that at the 2013 Grammy Awards red carpet special, Lupe stated the he will
release his 5th studio album called, “Tetsuo & Youth.”
Thank you York University for having me at York
Fest. I had a blast!
Click on this link to see a bit of Lupe Fiasco
performing at York Fest 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWtmzhIW_s&list=UU8sbqnKmIE08gqksjvBdcgQ&index=4
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