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{{Infobox song
{{Infobox song
| name = Superstar
|name = Superstar
| cover = SuperstarLF.jpg
|cover = SuperstarLF.jpg
| alt =
|type = single
⚫
|artist = [[Lupe Fiasco]] featuring [[Matthew Santos]]
⚫
| type = single
| artist = [[Lupe Fiasco]] featuring [[Matthew Santos]]
|album = [[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]]
⚫
|released = September 25, 2007
⚫
| album = [[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]]
⚫
|recorded = 2006
⚫
| released = September 25, 2007
| format = [[CD single]]
|genre = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]}}
⚫
|length = 4:49 (album version)<br>3:59 (radio version)
⚫
| recorded = 2006
⚫
|label = {{hlist|[[1st & 15th Entertainment|1st & 15th]]|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]}}
| studio =
|writer = {{hlist|[[Lupe Fiasco|Wasalu Muhammad Jaco]]|Rudolph Lopez<ref>{{cite web|title=Superstar on ACE Repertory|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/495001459|publisher=[[ASCAP]]|access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>|[[Matthew Santos]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Lupe_Fiasco_Superstar__Featuring_Matthew_Santos__-_|title=Lupe Fiasco Superstar Featuring Matthew Santos|access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>}}
| venue =
⚫
|producer = Soundtrakk
| genre = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[pop-rap]]}}
⚫
|chronology = [[Lupe Fiasco]]
⚫
| length = 4:49 (album version)<br>3:59 (radio version)
⚫
|prev_title = The Emperor's Soundtrack
⚫
| label = [[1st & 15th Entertainment|1st & 15th]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
⚫
|prev_year = 2007
| writer = Lupe Fiasco, Soundtrakk, Prince Ben
⚫
|next_title = [[Hip Hop Saved My Life]]
⚫
| producer = Soundtrakk
⚫
|next_year = 2008
⚫
| chronology = [[Lupe Fiasco]]
⚫
|misc =
⚫
| prev_title = The Emperor's Soundtrack
{{External music video|{{YouTube|hVkBlsgthLg|"Superstar"}}}}
⚫
| prev_year = 2007
⚫
}}"'''Superstar'''" is a song performed by [[rapper]] [[Lupe Fiasco]] featuring [[Matthew Santos]]. It is the first single off his 2007 album ''[[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]]''. [[iTunes Store|iTunes]] released "Superstar" on September 25, 2007 along with a radio version of "Dumb It Down."
⚫
| next_title = [[Hip Hop Saved My Life]]
⚫
| next_year = 2008
}}

⚫
"'''Superstar'''" is a song performed by [[rapper]] [[Lupe Fiasco]] featuring [[Matthew Santos]]. It is the first single off his 2007 album ''[[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]]''. [[iTunes Store|iTunes]] released "Superstar" on September 25, 2007 along with a radio version of "Dumb It Down."


On November 5, 2007 the official video was released and it was directed by [[Hype Williams]]. It premiered on [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]]'s ''106 & Park'' on November 23 and on February 19 it moved up to the number one spot on the countdown. As of December 31, it appeared at number 84 on BET's ''Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2007'' countdown.
On November 5, 2007 the official video was released and it was directed by [[Hype Williams]]. It premiered on [[Black Entertainment Television|BET]]'s ''106 & Park'' on November 23 and on February 19 it moved up to the number one spot on the countdown. As of December 31, it appeared at number 84 on BET's ''Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2007'' countdown.
The song is featured on the soundtrack of [[NFL Tour]] and recently [[NHL 2K10]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2ksports.com/beats/games/nhl2k10|title=2K Beats: NHL 2K10|work=[[2K Sports]]|accessdate=2013-03-04|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119095513/http://2ksports.com/beats/games/nhl2k10|archivedate=2012-11-19}}</ref> Star baseball player [[Hanley Ramírez]] used the song as his walk-up music at [[Florida Marlins]] home games.
The song is featured on the soundtracks of [[NFL Tour]] and [[NHL 2K10]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.2ksports.com/beats/games/nhl2k10|title=2K Beats: NHL 2K10|work=[[2K Sports]]|accessdate=2013-03-04|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119095513/http://2ksports.com/beats/games/nhl2k10|archivedate=2012-11-19}}</ref> Star baseball player [[Hanley Ramírez]] used the song as his walk-up music at [[Florida Marlins]] home games.
"Superstar" peaked at number ten on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. Outside of the United States, "Superstar" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the Republic of Ireland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.


In the song Lupe yells "FREE CHILLY" that is a reference to another song on his album. The song "Free Chilly" is about Lupe's business partner "Chilly" who was sentenced to 44 years in jail during the recording of "[[The Cool]]".
In the song, Lupe yells "FREE CHILLY" which is a reference to another song on his album. The song "Free Chilly" is about Lupe's business partner "Chilly" who was sentenced to 44 years in jail during the recording of "[[The Cool]]".


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
Most critics were positive towards the single. Complex ranked it at 95 on best songs of the decade. Bill Lamb, representing the music website About.com, awarded the song four-and-a-half stars, and gave primary praise to "Lupe Fiasco's dense lyrical meditation on life in the spotlight", "Matthew Santos' haunting vocals", and the "immediate setup of the melodic hook";<ref>[http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/lupefiascosuper.htm Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos - Superstar - About.com]</ref> however, he did emphasize Santos' vocal delivery to be similar to that of [[Coldplay]] frontman [[Chris Martin]] &mdash; of which both Fiasco and Santos are reportedly fans &mdash; citing it as ''both'' a positive and negative characteristic of the song.<ref>[http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/lupefiascosuper.htm Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos - Superstar - About.com]</ref> Pitchfork, in an otherwise positive outlook, expressed a similar sentiment: "The hooky first single [is] "Superstar", with Fiasco protégé Matthew Santos (who has probably heard a few Coldplay albums) playing [[Adam Levine]] to Fiasco's [[Kanye West]]",<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11022-the-cool/ Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lupe Fiasco: The Cool]</ref> thus comparing the song's style to that of "[[Heard 'Em Say]]", a Kanye West song released in 2005. However, music editor Nick Levine argues that "the hazy, gospel-inflected chorus, sung by Chicago folkie Matthew Santos, is just as memorable, suggesting everyone but Kanye should be quaking in his diamond-studded [[Reebok]]s."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a83947/lupe-fiasco-ft-matthew-santos-superstar.html Music - Single Reviews - Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos: 'Superstar' - Digital Spy]</ref> Blues&Soul felt that the song "blended Lupe's characteristic easy vocal flow with a pleasantly lumbering piano-led beat, a soulful hook, and the odd sample and sound effect."<ref>[http://www.bluesandsoul.com/review/362/lupe_fiasco_superstar/ LUPE FIASCO: SUPERSTAR]</ref> In a review for Yahoo Music, Jaime Gill wrote: "'Superstar' is a melancholy look at celebrity, with Fiasco delivering a languid rap about the insecurities that linger behind fame's brittle armour. Its set to a low-key piano part and a piercing, haunting chorus sung by one Matthew Santos. In one brilliant line, Lupe describes the luxuries of celebrity while skewering its loneliness: "chauffeur, chauffeur, come and take me away." It may be too subtle, slow and sad to be a hit in today's hip hop climate, which would be deeply depressing."<ref>[http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080111/33/21xnn.html Review of Lupe Fiasco - 'Superstar']</ref>
Most critics were positive towards the single. Complex ranked it at 95 on their 100 best songs of the 2000s. Bill Lamb, representing the music website About.com, awarded the song four-and-a-half stars, and gave primary praise to "Lupe Fiasco's dense lyrical meditation on life in the spotlight", "Matthew Santos' haunting vocals", and the "immediate setup of the melodic hook";<ref>[http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/lupefiascosuper.htm Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos - Superstar - About.com]</ref> however, he did emphasize Santos' vocal delivery to be similar to that of [[Coldplay]] frontman [[Chris Martin]] &mdash; of which both Fiasco and Santos are reportedly fans &mdash; citing it as ''both'' a positive and negative characteristic of the song.<ref>[http://top40.about.com/od/singles/gr/lupefiascosuper.htm Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos - Superstar - About.com]</ref> Pitchfork, in an otherwise positive outlook, expressed a similar sentiment: "The hooky first single [is] "Superstar", with Fiasco protégé Matthew Santos (who has probably heard a few Coldplay albums) playing [[Adam Levine]] to Fiasco's [[Kanye West]]",<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/11022-the-cool/ Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lupe Fiasco: The Cool]</ref> thus comparing the song's style to that of "[[Heard 'Em Say]]", a Kanye West song released in 2005. However, music editor Nick Levine argues that "the hazy, gospel-inflected chorus, sung by Chicago folkie Matthew Santos, is just as memorable, suggesting everyone but Kanye should be quaking in his diamond-studded [[Reebok]]s."<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/music/a83947/lupe-fiasco-ft-matthew-santos-superstar.html Music - Single Reviews - Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos: 'Superstar' - Digital Spy]</ref> Blues&Soul felt that the song "blended Lupe's characteristic easy vocal flow with a pleasantly lumbering piano-led beat, a soulful hook, and the odd sample and sound effect."<ref>[http://www.bluesandsoul.com/review/362/lupe_fiasco_superstar/ LUPE FIASCO: SUPERSTAR]</ref> In a review for Yahoo Music, Jaime Gill wrote: "'Superstar' is a melancholy look at celebrity, with Fiasco delivering a languid rap about the insecurities that linger behind fame's brittle armour. Its set to a low-key piano part and a piercing, haunting chorus sung by one Matthew Santos. In one brilliant line, Lupe describes the luxuries of celebrity while skewering its loneliness: "chauffeur, chauffeur, come and take me away." It may be too subtle, slow and sad to be a hit in today's hip hop climate, which would be deeply depressing."<ref>[http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080111/33/21xnn.html Review of Lupe Fiasco - 'Superstar']</ref>


==Chart performance==
==Chart performance==
On December 27, "Superstar" was moved to [[BBC Radio 1]]'s A-List after being made Record of the Week by both [[Sara Cox]] and [[Jo Whiley]]. As a result, the song debuted on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in the top ten at number 7 on downloads alone, the next week, it climbed to its peak of number 4. It became Lupe Fiasco's highest charting single there to date, outperforming both of his previous biggest hits, "Kick, Push" and "Daydreamin'", both of which made the top thirty there. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Pop Charts, and #10 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming Lupe Fiasco's first Top Ten single.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046180/ushers-club-remains-atop-the-hot-100 http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046180/ushers-club-remains-atop-the-hot-100] ''Billboard.com''</ref> It also surpassed the success of his first single on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart, peaking at #19, and was his first song to appear on the [[Rhythmic Top 40]], peaking at #8.
"Superstar" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Charts, and number ten on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming Lupe Fiasco's first top ten song on the chart.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046180/ushers-club-remains-atop-the-hot-100 http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046180/ushers-club-remains-atop-the-hot-100] ''Billboard.com''</ref> It also surpassed the success of his first single on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart, peaking at number 19, and was his first song to appear on the [[Rhythmic Top 40]], peaking at number eight.

In the United Kingdom, "Superstar" was moved to [[BBC Radio 1]]'s A-List after being made Record of the Week by both [[Sara Cox]] and [[Jo Whiley]] on December 27, 2007. As a result, the song debuted at number seven on the [[UK Singles Chart]] solely on downloads on January 13, 2008 – for the week ending date January 19, 2008 – before climbing to its peak of number four on the chart following its physical CD release the following week. It became Lupe Fiasco's highest-charting song in Britain to date, outperforming both of his previous biggest hits, "Kick, Push" and "Daydreamin'", both of which peaked within the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart.


The song was nominated for [[Best Rap/Sung Collaboration]] at the [[Grammy Awards of 2009]]. It was also nominated for 2008 Teen Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Song award. Additionally, "Superstar" was the [[theme song]] of [[Fox8]]'s [[Football Superstar]].
The song was nominated for [[Best Rap/Sung Collaboration]] at the [[Grammy Awards of 2009]]. It was also nominated for 2008 Teen Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Song award. Additionally, "Superstar" was the [[theme song]] of [[Fox8]]'s [[Football Superstar]].


==Music video==
==Music video==
The video depicts a [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] stopping at the red carpet. Two girls leave the car. Director Hype Williams{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} manages to slip in two characters from Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. [[The Cool (character)|The Cool]] with his characterizing skeleton hand and The Streets with her dollar signs in her eyes. The Cool apparently sold his soul to The Game for fame and fortune. In return, The Game's wife The Streets made him The Coolest and gave him the Mercedes as well as his bling and the gold key he has around his neck. The Video itself has been nominated for a MTV's VMA for Best Hip Hop Video.
The video depicts a [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class]] stopping at the red carpet. Two girls leave the car. Director Hype Williams{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} manages to slip in two characters from Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. [[The Cool (character)|The Cool]] with his characterizing skeleton hand and The Streets with her dollar signs in her eyes. The Cool apparently sold his soul to The Game for fame and fortune. In return, The Game's wife The Streets made him The Coolest and gave him the Mercedes as well as his bling and the gold key he has around his neck. Santos also appears in the video in a dark smoke room with shades on. The Video itself has been nominated for a MTV's VMA for Best Hip Hop Video.


==Other versions==
==Other versions==
There is an official remix to the song, featuring [[Matthew Santos]], [[Young Jeezy]] & [[T.I.]]. A recent performance on MTV was made, with [[Patrick Stump]] of [[Fall Out Boy]] performing the vocals of the end of the song.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDZshrAgve4 YouTube - Broadcast Yourself<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQfP6bYSMiM YouTube - Lupe Fiasco - Superstar ft Patrick Stump<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
There is an official remix to the song, featuring [[Matthew Santos]], [[Young Jeezy]] & [[T.I.]] A recent performance on MTV was made, with [[Patrick Stump]] of [[Fall Out Boy]] performing the vocals of the end of the song.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDZshrAgve4 YouTube – Broadcast Yourself<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQfP6bYSMiM YouTube – Lupe Fiasco – Superstar ft Patrick Stump<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


A third version of the song was performed by [[Lupe Fiasco|Fiasco]] and [[Matthew Santos|Santos]] on [[BBC Radio]] and featured an entirely [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] instrumental without any [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] accompaniment. It was unofficially released on the internet<ref>[http://2dopeboyz.com/2008/04/02/lupe-fiasco-superstar-acoustic-version/] ''2dopeboyz.com''</ref> and later officially released (20 October 2008) on BBC ''[[Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 3]]''.
A third version of the song was performed by [[Lupe Fiasco|Fiasco]] and [[Matthew Santos|Santos]] on [[BBC Radio]] in the United Kingdom, and featured an entirely [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] instrumental without any [[Percussion instrument|percussion]] accompaniment. It was unofficially released on the internet<ref>[http://2dopeboyz.com/2008/04/02/lupe-fiasco-superstar-acoustic-version/] ''2dopeboyz.com''</ref> and later officially released (20 October 2008) on BBC ''[[Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 3]]''.


==Charts==
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!align="center"|Chart (2007)
!align="center"|Chart (2007–2008)
!align="center"|Peak<br/>position
!align="center"|Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Australia|32|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar}}
{{singlechart|Australia|32|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar}}
|-
{{single chart|Australiaurban|11|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080520233743/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20080520-0000/issue948.pdf|urltitle=Issue 948|access-date=March 4, 2022}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Austria|55|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar}}
{{singlechart|Austria|55|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar}}
Line 62: Line 64:
{{singlechart|Canada|46|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
{{singlechart|Canada|46|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Germany|39|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar}}
{{singlechart|Germany|39|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar|songid=395838}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland3|3|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
{{singlechart|Ireland3|3|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
|-
{{singlechart|Scotland|9|date=20080120|accessdate=March 19, 2023}}
|-
{{singlechart|Switzerland|42|artist=Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos |song=Superstar|accessdate=March 19, 2023}}
|-
|-
|align="left"|Turkey (Turkiye Top 20)<ref>[http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/ Turkish Top 20 Chart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305044916/http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/ |date=2009-03-05 }}</ref>
|align="left"|Turkey (Turkiye Top 20)<ref>[http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/ Turkish Top 20 Chart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305044916/http://www.billboard.com.tr/pages/Turkiye_top20.aspx/ |date=2009-03-05 }}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|4
|-
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|4|artist=Lupe Fiasco|artistid=1738|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
|-
|-
{{singlechart|UKrandb|1|artist=Lupe Fiasco|song=Superstar|date=20080120|accessdate=January 4, 2021}}
|align="left"|[[UK R&B Chart]]
|align="center"|1
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|10|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|10|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
Line 81: Line 86:
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|14|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
{{singlechart|Billboardpopsongs|14|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=April 7, 2019}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|9|artist=Lupe Fiasco|accessdate=March 19, 2023}}
|}
|}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
Line 87: Line 94:
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Chart (2008)
! scope="col"| Position
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20080106/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2008|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=January 4, 2020}}</ref>
| 67
|-
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2008|work=Billboard|accessdate=August 13, 2019}}</ref>
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2008/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2008|work=Billboard|accessdate=August 13, 2019}}</ref>
Line 97: Line 107:
|}
|}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2007|artist=Lupe Fiasco Ft Matthew Santos|title=Superstar|award=Gold|certyear=2022|type=single|access-date=February 26, 2022|id=6395-3579-1}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Superstar|artist=Lupe Fiasco|type=single|award=Platinum|date=September 17, 2008|access-date=October 5, 2021|relyear=2007|certyear=2008}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|hVkBlsgthLg|"Superstar" Music video}}


{{Lupe Fiasco singles}}
{{Lupe Fiasco singles}}
{{Matthew Santos}}
{{Matthew Santos}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:2008 singles]]
[[Category:2008 singles]]
Line 109: Line 129:
[[Category:Songs written by Lupe Fiasco]]
[[Category:Songs written by Lupe Fiasco]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Hype Williams]]
[[Category:Music videos directed by Hype Williams]]
[[Category:UK R&B Singles Chart number-one singles]]
[[Category:2007 songs]]
[[Category:2007 songs]]

Latest revision as of 01:52, 14 February 2024

"Superstar"
Single by Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos
from the album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2007
Recorded2006
Genre
Length4:49 (album version)
3:59 (radio version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Soundtrakk
Lupe Fiasco singles chronology
"The Emperor's Soundtrack"
(2007) 		"Superstar"
(2007) 		"Hip Hop Saved My Life"
(2008)
Music video
"Superstar" on YouTube

"Superstar" is a song performed by rapper Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos. It is the first single off his 2007 album Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. iTunes released "Superstar" on September 25, 2007 along with a radio version of "Dumb It Down."

On November 5, 2007 the official video was released and it was directed by Hype Williams. It premiered on BET's 106 & Park on November 23 and on February 19 it moved up to the number one spot on the countdown. As of December 31, it appeared at number 84 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2007 countdown. The song is featured on the soundtracks of NFL Tour and NHL 2K10.[3] Star baseball player Hanley Ramírez used the song as his walk-up music at Florida Marlins home games. "Superstar" peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Superstar" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the Republic of Ireland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

In the song, Lupe yells "FREE CHILLY" which is a reference to another song on his album. The song "Free Chilly" is about Lupe's business partner "Chilly" who was sentenced to 44 years in jail during the recording of "The Cool".

Critical reception

[edit]

Most critics were positive towards the single. Complex ranked it at 95 on their 100 best songs of the 2000s. Bill Lamb, representing the music website About.com, awarded the song four-and-a-half stars, and gave primary praise to "Lupe Fiasco's dense lyrical meditation on life in the spotlight", "Matthew Santos' haunting vocals", and the "immediate setup of the melodic hook";[4] however, he did emphasize Santos' vocal delivery to be similar to that of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin — of which both Fiasco and Santos are reportedly fans — citing it as both a positive and negative characteristic of the song.[5] Pitchfork, in an otherwise positive outlook, expressed a similar sentiment: "The hooky first single [is] "Superstar", with Fiasco protégé Matthew Santos (who has probably heard a few Coldplay albums) playing Adam Levine to Fiasco's Kanye West",[6] thus comparing the song's style to that of "Heard 'Em Say", a Kanye West song released in 2005. However, music editor Nick Levine argues that "the hazy, gospel-inflected chorus, sung by Chicago folkie Matthew Santos, is just as memorable, suggesting everyone but Kanye should be quaking in his diamond-studded Reeboks."[7] Blues&Soul felt that the song "blended Lupe's characteristic easy vocal flow with a pleasantly lumbering piano-led beat, a soulful hook, and the odd sample and sound effect."[8] In a review for Yahoo Music, Jaime Gill wrote: "'Superstar' is a melancholy look at celebrity, with Fiasco delivering a languid rap about the insecurities that linger behind fame's brittle armour. Its set to a low-key piano part and a piercing, haunting chorus sung by one Matthew Santos. In one brilliant line, Lupe describes the luxuries of celebrity while skewering its loneliness: "chauffeur, chauffeur, come and take me away." It may be too subtle, slow and sad to be a hit in today's hip hop climate, which would be deeply depressing."[9]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Superstar" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Charts, and number ten on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lupe Fiasco's first top ten song on the chart.[10] It also surpassed the success of his first single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 19, and was his first song to appear on the Rhythmic Top 40, peaking at number eight.

In the United Kingdom, "Superstar" was moved to BBC Radio 1's A-List after being made Record of the Week by both Sara Cox and Jo Whiley on December 27, 2007. As a result, the song debuted at number seven on the UK Singles Chart solely on downloads on January 13, 2008 – for the week ending date January 19, 2008 – before climbing to its peak of number four on the chart following its physical CD release the following week. It became Lupe Fiasco's highest-charting song in Britain to date, outperforming both of his previous biggest hits, "Kick, Push" and "Daydreamin'", both of which peaked within the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart.

The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the Grammy Awards of 2009. It was also nominated for 2008 Teen Choice Music: Rap/Hip-Hop Song award. Additionally, "Superstar" was the theme song of Fox8's Football Superstar.

Music video

[edit]

The video depicts a Mercedes-Benz S-Class stopping at the red carpet. Two girls leave the car. Director Hype Williams[citation needed] manages to slip in two characters from Lupe Fiasco's The Cool. The Cool with his characterizing skeleton hand and The Streets with her dollar signs in her eyes. The Cool apparently sold his soul to The Game for fame and fortune. In return, The Game's wife The Streets made him The Coolest and gave him the Mercedes as well as his bling and the gold key he has around his neck. Santos also appears in the video in a dark smoke room with shades on. The Video itself has been nominated for a MTV's VMA for Best Hip Hop Video.

Other versions

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There is an official remix to the song, featuring Matthew Santos, Young Jeezy & T.I. A recent performance on MTV was made, with Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy performing the vocals of the end of the song.[11][12]

A third version of the song was performed by Fiasco and Santos on BBC Radio in the United Kingdom, and featured an entirely acoustic instrumental without any percussion accompaniment. It was unofficially released on the internet[13] and later officially released (20 October 2008) on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 3.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Superstar on ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Superstar Featuring Matthew Santos". Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  3. ^ "2K Beats: NHL 2K10". 2K Sports. Archived from the original on 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2013-03-04.
  4. ^ Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos - Superstar - About.com
  5. ^ Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos - Superstar - About.com
  6. ^ Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lupe Fiasco: The Cool
  7. ^ Music - Single Reviews - Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos: 'Superstar' - Digital Spy
  8. ^ LUPE FIASCO: SUPERSTAR
  9. ^ Review of Lupe Fiasco - 'Superstar'
  10. ^ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046180/ushers-club-remains-atop-the-hot-100 Billboard.com
  11. ^ YouTube – Broadcast Yourself
  12. ^ YouTube – Lupe Fiasco – Superstar ft Patrick Stump
  13. ^ [1] 2dopeboyz.com
  14. ^ "Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos – Superstar". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  15. ^ "Issue 948" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  16. ^ "Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos – Superstar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  17. ^ "Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos – Superstar" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
  18. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  19. ^ "Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos – Superstar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  20. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Lupe Fiasco". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  22. ^ "Lupe Fiasco feat. Matthew Santos – Superstar". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  23. ^ Turkish Top 20 Chart Archived 2009-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Lupe Fiasco: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  25. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  27. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  28. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  29. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  30. ^ "Lupe Fiasco Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  31. ^ "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2008". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  32. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  33. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  34. ^ "British single certifications – Lupe Fiasco Ft Matthew Santos – Superstar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "American single certifications – Lupe Fiasco – Superstar". Recording Industry Association of America. September 17, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
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