Lasers (album): Difference between revisions
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{{Redirect|LASERS|the device|laser|other uses|laser (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Infobox album |
{{Infobox album |
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| name = Lasers |
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| type = studio |
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| artist = [[Lupe Fiasco]] |
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| cover = Lupe Fiasco Lasers.jpg |
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| alt = Image of a gallery setting, where a LOSERS sign is plugged into the wall. Superimposed over the 'O' is the red anarchist 'A' to read LASERS. |
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|Released = {{Start date|2011|03|07}} |
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| released = {{Start date|2011|03|07}} |
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|Recorded = 2008–2010 |
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| recorded = 2008–2010 |
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|Genre = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]|[[pop rap]]}} |
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| venue = |
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| studio = |
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|Label = 1st & 15th, [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] |
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| genre = {{hlist|[[Hip hop music|Hip hop]]}} |
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|Producer = [[Lupe Fiasco]] <small>([[Executive producer|exec.]])</small>, Charles "Chilly" Patton <small>(exec.)</small>, Darrale Jones <small>(co-exec.)</small>, The Audibles, [[Alex da Kid]], iSHi, [[The Buchanans]], [[Kane Beatz]], King David, [[Needlz]], [[The Neptunes]], Soundtrakk, [[Jerry Duplessis]], [[Syience]], Arden Altino, Miykal Snoddy |
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| length = {{Duration|m=57|s=03}} |
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|Reviews = |
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| label = {{hlist|1st & 15th|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]}} |
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|Last album = ''[[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]]''<br />(2007) |
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| producer = {{hlist|[[Lupe Fiasco]] <small>([[Executive producer|exec.]])</small>|Charles "Chilly" Patton <small>(exec.)</small>|Darrale Jones <small>(co-exec.)</small>|[[The Audibles]]|[[Alex da Kid]]|[[Eshraque "iSHi" Mughal|iSHi]]|[[The Buchanans]]|[[Kane Beatz]]|King David|[[Needlz]]|[[The Neptunes]]|Soundtrakk|[[Jerry Duplessis]]|[[Syience]]|Arden Altino|Miykal Snoddy}} |
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|This album = '''''Lasers'''''<br />(2011) |
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| prev_title = [[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]] |
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|Next album = ''[[Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1]]''<br />(2012) |
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| prev_year = 2007 |
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| next_title = [[Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1]] |
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|Name = Lasers |
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| next_year = 2012 |
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|Type = Studio album |
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| misc = {{Singles |
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|single 1 = [[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]] |
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| name = Lasers |
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|single 1 date = October 26, 2010<ref>{{cite web|last=Crosley |first=Hillary |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649733/lupe-fiasco-on-atlantic-agreement-were-rolling.jhtml |title=Lupe Fiasco On Atlantic Agreement: 'We're Rolling' - Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=2010-10-11 |accessdate=2011-02-21}}</ref> |
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| type = studio |
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|single 2 = [[Words I Never Said]] |
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| single1 = [[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]] |
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|single 2 date = February 8, 2011<ref name="CoS">{{cite web|author=The Barretts of Wimpole Street |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/02/check-out-new-lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said%E2%80%9D/ |title=Check Out: New Lupe Fiasco, "Words I Never Said" « Consequence of Sound |publisher=Consequenceofsound.net |date=2011-02-01 |accessdate=2011-02-28}}</ref> |
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| single1date = October 26, 2010<ref>{{cite web|last=Crosley |first=Hillary |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649733/lupe-fiasco-on-atlantic-agreement-were-rolling.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629164225/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649733/lupe-fiasco-on-atlantic-agreement-were-rolling.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco On Atlantic Agreement: 'We're Rolling' |publisher=MTV |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> |
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| single 3 = [[Out of My Head (Lupe Fiasco song)|Out of My Head]] |
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| single2 = [[Words I Never Said]] |
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| single 3 date = May 22, 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/03/lupe-fiasco-announces-his-next-lasers-single |title=Lupe Fiasco Announces His Next "Lasers" Single |publisher=Complex.com |date=2011-03-29 |accessdate=2011-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases |title=Urban/UAC Future Releases | R&B, Hip Hop, Release Schedule and Street Dates | |publisher=Allaccess.com |date= |accessdate=2011-05-29}}</ref> |
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| single2date = February 8, 2011<ref name="CoS">{{cite web|first=Alex |last=Young |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/02/check-out-new-lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said%E2%80%9D/ |title=Check Out: New Lupe Fiasco, "Words I Never Said" |publisher=Consequence of Sound |date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=February 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723054332/http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/02/check-out-new-lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said%E2%80%9D/ |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> |
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| single 4 = [[I Don't Wanna Care Right Now]] |
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| single3 = [[Out of My Head (Lupe Fiasco song)|Out of My Head]] |
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| single 4 date = December 2, 2011<ref>{{cite web|last=Gary |first=Kevin S. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14788/title.lupe-fiasco-says-his-core-fans-will-be-pleased-with-food-liquor-2 |title=Lupe Fiasco Says His Core Fans Will Be Pleased With "Food & Liquor 2" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date= |accessdate=2011-04-19}}</ref> |
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| single3date = May 22, 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/03/lupe-fiasco-announces-his-next-lasers-single |title=Lupe Fiasco Announces His Next "Lasers" Single |publisher=Complex.com |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases |title=Urban/UAC Future Releases | R&B, Hip Hop, Release Schedule and Street Dates | |publisher=Allaccess.com |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> |
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}}}} |
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| single4 = [[I Don't Wanna Care Right Now]] |
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| single4date = December 2, 2011<ref>{{cite web|last=Gary |first=Kevin S. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14788/title.lupe-fiasco-says-his-core-fans-will-be-pleased-with-food-liquor-2 |title=Lupe Fiasco Says His Core Fans Will Be Pleased With "Food & Liquor 2" | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |date=April 19, 2011 |publisher=HipHop DX |access-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref> |
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'''''Lasers''''' is the third |
'''''Lasers''''' is the third studio album by American rapper [[Lupe Fiasco]], released on March 7, 2011 by [[Atlantic Records]]. Production for the album took place between 2008 and 2010. ''Lasers'' features production by The Audibles, [[The Neptunes]], [[Needlz]], [[Alex da Kid]], [[Syience]], and long-time collaborator Soundtrakk, among others. [[Trey Songz]], [[John Legend]], [[Skylar Grey]], [[Sway DaSafo|Sway]], [[Matt Mahaffey]], [[Poo Bear|MDMA]], [[Eric Turner (singer)|Eric Turner]] and Sarah Green contribute vocals to the album. |
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''Lasers'' was preceded by the [[lead single]] "[[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]]" and its follow-up "[[Words I Never Said]]" featuring [[Skylar Grey]]. The former became Fiasco's highest charting song on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and has been certified double [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] in the US. The latter, however, only achieved moderate success on the Hot 100. |
''Lasers'' was preceded by the [[lead single]] "[[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]]" and its follow-up "[[Words I Never Said]]" featuring [[Skylar Grey]]. The former became Fiasco's highest charting song on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and has been certified double [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] in the US. The latter, however, only achieved moderate success on the Hot 100. |
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The album has received |
The album has received mixed reviews from most major music critics, having a score of 57 out of 100 at the review aggregator [[Metacritic]]. It fared well commercially however, debuting at number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] with first-week sales of over 200,000 copies sold, making the album Fiasco's second top ten album as well as his highest entry on the chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/chart-moves-katy-perry-rihanna-set-records-1005079122.story |title=Chart Moves: Katy Perry, Rihanna Set Records; Lupe Fiasco, Christian Music on Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 19, 2011 |archive-date=March 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324104237/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/chart-moves-katy-perry-rihanna-set-records-1005079122.story |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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Lupe Fiasco was supposedly going to release a [[triple album]], titled ''LupE.N.D.'' as his third and final record, but his contract with [[Atlantic Records]] prevented him from doing so. From then he postponed ''LupE.N.D.'' indefinitely and intended on releasing an album tentatively titled ''The Great American Rap Album'' in June 2009.<ref>Sharks (February 2, 2009). [http://www.theboombox.com/2009/02/02/lupe-fiasco-to-release-the-great-american-rap-album/ Lupe Fiasco to Release 'The Great American Rap Album']. TheBoombox. Retrieved on |
Lupe Fiasco was supposedly going to release a [[triple album]], titled ''LupE.N.D.'' as his third and final record, but his contract with [[Atlantic Records]] prevented him from doing so. From then he postponed ''LupE.N.D.'' indefinitely and intended on releasing an album tentatively titled ''The Great American Rap Album'' in June 2009.<ref>Sharks (February 2, 2009). [http://www.theboombox.com/2009/02/02/lupe-fiasco-to-release-the-great-american-rap-album/ Lupe Fiasco to Release 'The Great American Rap Album']. TheBoombox. Retrieved on March 16, 2011.</ref> Instead, the album was also postponed and he announced that a new album was in the works, originally titled ''We Are Lasers'' and then changed to ''Lasers''. "Lasers" is a [[backronym]] for "Love Always Shines Everytime, Remember 2 Smile".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/07/03/trailer-lupe-fiasco-lasers/ |title=Trailer: Lupe Fiasco – 'Lasers' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |access-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref> Referring to the title of the album, Fiasco has stated: "I've always had that word in my head, I'm a word guy. And I thought 'lasers' would be a dope name for an album, so when I came up with it I just put it in my 'think-tank' and let it evolve and came up with different meanings for it. That’s why I made it an [[acronym]] [sic] to give it a new mould, a new understanding, but still playing off the idea that it's bringing light to different circumstances which is what I try and do – bringing understanding and light and awareness to different projects that are going on in the world, and 'L.A.S.E.R.S' is no different.<ref>{{cite web|first=Penny |last=Newton |url=http://www.mtv.com.au/news/657b9996-interview-lupe-fiasco/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307143614/http://www.mtv.com.au/news/657b9996-interview-lupe-fiasco |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |title=INTERVIEW: Lupe Fiasco | Lupe Fiasco | News | MTV Australia |publisher=Mtv.com.au |access-date=March 4, 2011}}</ref> |
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In 2010, to promote the message of the album, Fiasco released a [[viral video]] onto the internet titled "The L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto", which can be found on both |
In 2010, to promote the message of the album, Fiasco released a [[viral video]] onto the internet titled "The L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto", which can be found on both YouTube and the official website. The [[manifesto]] reads:<ref>{{YouTube|BZtAQQh-yYA|LUPE FIASCO – THE L.A.S.E.R.S. MANIFESTO.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greedmontpark.com/2011/02/28/lupe-fiasco-lasers-manifesto-interview/ |title=Pop Culture Magazine» Blog Archive" Lupe Fiasco | Laser's Manifesto [Interview] |publisher=Greedmont Park |access-date=March 3, 2011}}</ref> {{cquote|To every man, woman & child... We want an end to the glamorization of negativity in the media. We want an end to status symbols dictating our worth as individuals. We want a meaningful and universal education system. We want substance in the place of popularity. We will not compromise who we are to be accepted by the crowd. We want the invisible walls that separate by wealth, race & class to be torn down. We want to think our own thoughts. We will be responsible for our environment. We want clarity & truth from our elected officials or they should move aside. We want love not lies. We want an end to all wars foreign & domestic violence. We want an end to the processed culture of exploitation, over-consumption & waste. We want knowledge, understanding & peace. We will not lose because we are not losers, we are lasers! Lasers are revolutionary. Lasers are the future.}} |
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On January 4, 2011, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' revealed two guest appearances on Fiasco's album ''Lasers''. The guests confirmed were [[Trey Songz]] and |
On January 4, 2011, ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' revealed two guest appearances on Fiasco's album ''Lasers''. The guests confirmed were [[Trey Songz]] and British rapper [[Sway DaSafo|Sway]]. In the interview with ''Billboard'', Fiasco expressed his thoughts on [[Copyright infringement|music piracy]] and fighting track leaks on various blogs.<ref name="Billboard interview"/> Speaking about the problems with his record label, Fiasco has stated: "I think I set the precedent for record labels — showed everyone that you can have rappers that don't fit the format and still have a presence [...] You look at a person like me, or [[Kanye West|Kanye]] [West], and it was sort of a shock to the system. I definitely think I was part of changing that, and an influence to a lot dudes that are coming out today."<ref name="Billboard interview">Frazier, Walter (December 30, 2010). [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/948646/lupe-fiasco-drops-label-beef-to-focus-on-lasers Lupe Fiasco Drops Label Beef to Focus on 'Lasers']. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved on March 16, 2011.</ref> |
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In a 2011 interview with [[MTV (UK and Ireland)|MTV UK]], Fiasco said that the album " |
In a 2011 interview with [[MTV (UK and Ireland)|MTV UK]], Fiasco said that the album "doesn't have a storyline, whereas ''[[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool|The Cool]]'' was a concept album and this is more just a collection of songs that share some of the same tones, which is basically just positivity and consciousness. Some of the records are controversial, but it's less cohesive than ''The Cool''."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/259115-lupe-fiasco-the-interview |title=Lupe Fiasco: The Interview! |publisher=Mtv.co.uk |access-date=February 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224035122/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/259115-lupe-fiasco-the-interview |archive-date=February 24, 2011 }}</ref> Talking about the album with ''[[Details (magazine)|Details]]'', Fiasco has stated that he wanted to make "a popular record [...] but by my definition of popular [...] an uprising of the people".<ref name="Details">{{cite web|last=Knafo |first=Saki |url=http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/music-and-books/201103/lupe-fiasco-hip-hop-mc-touch-the-sky |title=Lupe Fiasco Goes Mainstream—His Way: Music + Books |publisher=Details |date=October 20, 2009 |access-date=February 23, 2011}}</ref> He has also stated that the creation of the album was "a very painful, dark, fucked-up process."<ref name="Details"/> |
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In a February 2011 interview with ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'', Fiasco has stated:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/02/interview-lupe-fiasco-hates-lasers |title=Interview: Lupe Fiasco Hates His Own Album |publisher=Complex.com |date= |
In a February 2011 interview with ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'', Fiasco has stated:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2011/02/interview-lupe-fiasco-hates-lasers |title=Interview: Lupe Fiasco Hates His Own Album |publisher=Complex.com |access-date=February 28, 2011}}</ref> {{cquote|One thing I try to stress about this project is, I love and hate this album. I listen to it and I’ll like some of the songs. But when I think about what it took to actually get the record together and everything that I went through on this record – which is something I can't separate – I hate this album. A lot of the songs that are on the album, I’m kinda neutral to. Not that I don't like them, or that I hate them, it's just I know the process that went behind it. I know the sneaky business deal that went down behind this song, or the artist or singer or songwriter who wrote this hook and didn't want to give me this song in the first place. So when I have that kind of knowledge behind it, I’m just kind of neutral to it like, ‘Another day, another dollar’. As opposed something like ''The Cool'', which is more of my own blood, sweat, and tears, and my own control. With this record, I’m little bit more neutral as to the love for the record. |
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I |
I don't like the process behind ''Lasers''. The music is dope but I just don't like the process. We were literally at the point where all this music was done except for a couple songs that we did after the protest. So the bulk of the album was done. And we were talking about shelving the album and going to another label, that's where we were like, ‘If you put the record out, put it out. Either move on to another album or can it and we’ll do other records at another label’. The business of it got solved. I’m happy for the fans, this is their album. This is the album that they fought for and that's what made me do songs like ‘[[Words I Never Said]]’ and ‘All Black Everything’.}} |
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Speaking about the album with the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', Fiasco has stated: "''Lasers'' is a great album. I'm actually happy with the record. I feel I got to say what I wanted even with |
Speaking about the album with the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', Fiasco has stated: "''Lasers'' is a great album. I'm actually happy with the record. I feel I got to say what I wanted even with – It doesn't make up for what it took to get through it. It's still being argued and debated upon. ... The climate of this record was very weird, in some instances surreal. I became very abstract. I had to create this commercial art that appeases the corporate side. I had to acquiesce to certain forces. Hopefully within that I snuck in some things I actually wanted to say any way I can."<ref name="SunTimesInterview">{{cite news |last=Conner |first=Thomas |url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2011/03/lupe_fiasco_does_what_hes_told.html |title=Lupe Fiasco: 'I am a hostage' – struggles through difficult creative process for new 'Lasers' album |publisher=Blogs.suntimes.com |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306155510/http://blogs.suntimes.com/music/2011/03/lupe_fiasco_does_what_hes_told.html |archive-date=March 6, 2011 }}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', Fiasco has expressed that during the recording process of the album he has dealt with depression and [[Suicide|suicidal thoughts]]: "It was mentally destructive. I say it with a certain laissez-faire now because I'm past it [...]. I was super-depressed, lightly suicidal, at moments medium suicidal – and if not suicidal, willing to just walk away from it all completely."<ref>{{cite news|first=Angus |last=Batey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/03/lupe-fiasco-lasers-atlantic |title=Lupe Fiasco: 'I have the right to speak out' |newspaper=The Guardian |date= March 3, 2011|access-date=March 4, 2011 |location=London}}</ref> A remix of the song "All Black Everything" featuring [[Chamillionaire]] was released in April 2011 for free download.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2011/5/chamillionaire-featuring-lupe-fiasco-all-black-everything-freemix|title=Lupe Fiasco featuring Chamillionaire — All Black Everything (Freemix)|date=May 24, 2011|website=Hypebeast}}</ref> |
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== Release conflict and petition == |
== Release conflict and petition == |
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Lupe Fiasco had announced on |
Lupe Fiasco had announced on Twitter that the album was complete and was waiting for [[Atlantic Records]] to release it. A fan awaiting the release of the album, put together an [[Internet petition|online petition]] with the help of Rhymestyle from the "LupEND Blog" [[Fansite|fan site]], demanding that Atlantic Records release ''Lasers'', due to the fact that the album was announced for a 2010 release and at the time still did not have a release date.<ref>{{cite web|last=Baron |first=Zach |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/09/introducing_fia.php |title=Introducing Fiasco Friday, A Quixotic Plan to Picket the Offices of Atlantic Records in the Name of Lupe Fiasco – New York Music – Sound of the City |publisher=Blogs.villagevoice.com |date=September 27, 2010 |access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimesmagazine.com/2011/03/hip-hops-reluctant-hero.html |title=Hip-Hop's Reluctant Hero |newspaper=LA Times Magazine |access-date=March 9, 2011}}</ref> The petition garnered considerable attention on hip hop blog sites and attained over 5,000 signatures on its first day.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Koroma |first=Salima |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11771/title.dx-news-bits-kid-cudi-lupe-fiasco |title=DX News Bits: Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco |magazine=HipHopDX |date=July 22, 2010 |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> In response to the petition, Lupe Fiasco released a song titled "B.M.F. (Building Minds Faster)" (a remix of "[[B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)]]" by [[Rick Ross (rapper)|Rick Ross]]) as a gift for his fans.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/lupe-fiasco-talks-fan-petition-lasers-being-limboi-love-see-this-petition-it-brought.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130074924/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/lupe-fiasco-talks-fan-petition-lasers-being-limboi-love-see-this-petition-it-brought.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco Talks Fan Petition, Lasers Being in Limbo |publisher=MTV |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> The story was featured on many websites, including [[CNN]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/27/lupe-fiasco-fans-demand-more-music/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713151145/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/27/lupe-fiasco-fans-demand-more-music/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |title=Lupe Fiasco fans demand more music – The Marquee Blog – CNN.com Blogs |publisher=Marquee.blogs.cnn.com |date= July 27, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/11/lupe-fiascos-lasers-gets-a-release-date/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013051216/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/11/lupe-fiascos-lasers-gets-a-release-date/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2010 |title=Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' gets a release date – The Marquee Blog – CNN.com Blogs |publisher=Marquee.blogs.cnn.com |date= October 11, 2010|access-date=March 9, 2011}}</ref> |
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and [[MTV]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/20100727/fiasco__lupe.jhtml |title=Lupe Fiasco Talks Fan Petition, Lasers Being |
and [[MTV]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid |first=Shaheem |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/20100727/fiasco__lupe.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904234229/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644559/20100727/fiasco__lupe.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Lupe Fiasco Talks Fan Petition, Lasers Being in Limbo |publisher=MTV |date=July 28, 2010 |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/latest-headlines/2010/09/lupe-fiasco-protest-organizer-speaks-on-demonstration/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Protest Organizer Speaks on Demonstration |date=September 22, 2010 |publisher=Xxlmag.Com |access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref><ref name="MTVFiascoFriday">{{cite web|last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650151/lupe-fiasco-fans-celebrate-lasers-release-date-at-nyc-rally.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318102652/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1650151/lupe-fiasco-fans-celebrate-lasers-release-date-at-nyc-rally.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 18, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco Fans Celebrate Lasers Release Date at NYC Rally |publisher=MTV |date=October 15, 2010 |access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> On October 7, 2010, Lupe Fiasco posted a picture of himself with Atlantic president, Julie Greenwald.<ref>{{cite web|author=Stew |url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/10/lupe-fiascos-lasers-finally-gets-a-release-date/ |title=Lupe Fiasco's Lasers finally gets a release date |date=October 8, 2010 |publisher=Consequence of Sound |access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> On October 8, Atlantic Records revealed that the release date for ''Lasers'' would be March 8, 2011.<ref name="MTV"/> Even though the release date of the album had been confirmed prior, a number of fans protested outside Atlantic Records' offices in New York City on October 15, 2010. Protest co-organizer Matthew La Corte has told ''[[The Village Voice]]'' that it should be considered as a "celebration of the release and everyone's hard work".<ref>{{cite web|last=Baron |first=Zach |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/10/victorious_lupe.php |title=Victorious Lupe Fiasco Fans Will Still March on Atlantic Records This Friday – New York Music – Sound of the City |publisher=Blogs.villagevoice.com |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2010/09/20/lupe-fans-set-to-protest-record-label/ |title=Lupe Fans Set To Protest Record Label |publisher=Rap Radar |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> Lupe Fiasco also attended, and gave a speech.<ref name="MTVFiascoFriday"/><ref name="MTV">{{cite web|last=Ziegbe |first=Mawuse |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649637/lupe-fiascos-lasers-gets-release-date.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131010039/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1649637/lupe-fiascos-lasers-gets-release-date.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco's Lasers Gets A Release Date |publisher=MTV |date=October 8, 2010 |access-date=February 21, 2011}}</ref> |
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Speaking in a March 2011 interview with ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' about the support that his fans have given him to release the album, Fiasco has said: "It was amazing, humbling, and inspiring, to the point where I went back in the studio and did more records … it made everything real, that your music is actually something that people want. And it's something that is successful, not in selling records, but the way it moves people and inspires them to do better for themselves."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hood |first=Bryan |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/lupe_fiasco_on_lasers_lame_rap.html |title=Lupe Fiasco on Lasers, Lame Rap, and His Battles With the Music Industry |
Speaking in a March 2011 interview with ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' about the support that his fans have given him to release the album, Fiasco has said: "It was amazing, humbling, and inspiring, to the point where I went back in the studio and did more records … it made everything real, that your music is actually something that people want. And it's something that is successful, not in selling records, but the way it moves people and inspires them to do better for themselves."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hood |first=Bryan |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/03/lupe_fiasco_on_lasers_lame_rap.html |title=Lupe Fiasco on Lasers, Lame Rap, and His Battles With the Music Industry – Vulture |date=March 7, 2011 |publisher=Nymag.com |access-date=March 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659528/lupe-fiasco-releases-lasers-album.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312070813/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659528/lupe-fiasco-releases-lasers-album.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco Says He's 'Joyous' That Fans Rallied For Lasers Release |publisher=MTV |date=March 9, 2011 |access-date=March 31, 2011}}</ref> |
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== Singles and leaked material == |
== Singles and leaked material == |
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During a concert at [[Boston College]], Fiasco played the [[Refrain|chorus]] of a song called "[[Shining Down]]", which eventually led to a snippet being [[ |
During a concert at [[Boston College]], Fiasco played the [[Refrain|chorus]] of a song called "[[Shining Down]]", which eventually led to a snippet being [[Music leak|leaked]] onto the internet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/06/16/new-music-lupe-fiasco-shining-down/ |title=New Music: Lupe Fiasco – 'Shining Down' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref> On May 17, 2009, a low quality version of the single leaked onto the internet, possibly stemming from a rip from the "FNF TV Stream".<ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts |first=Steven |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614156/lupe-fiasco-calls-shining-down-leak-slap-face.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128064536/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614156/lupe-fiasco-calls-shining-down-leak-slap-face.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 28, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco Calls 'Shining Down' Leak 'A Slap in the Face' |publisher=MTV |date=June 17, 2009 |access-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref> "Shining Down" was intended to be the first single from ''Everywhere'', the first of the three CDs that ''LupE.N.D.'' would have been composed of.<ref>[http://lupefiasco-lupend.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-single-of-everywhere-revealed.html LupEND News – "Shining Down" Will Be The First Single] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402123829/http://lupefiasco-lupend.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-single-of-everywhere-revealed.html |date=April 2, 2009 }}. The LupE.N.D. Blog. Retrieved on March 16, 2011.</ref> But because its release was withheld, there was speculation circulating that it may be the first single from ''Lasers''. Fiasco later confirmed that it is in fact the first single from the album. The song was produced by Soundtrakk and featured [[Matthew Santos]], in the same collaborative manner that Fiasco featured Santos on his hit lead single, "[[Superstar (Lupe Fiasco song)|Superstar]]" from his second album, ''[[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Baron |first=Zach |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2009/06/the_lupe_fiasco.php |title=The Lupe Fiasco "Shining Down" Leak: Point, Counterpoint – New York Music – Sound of the City |publisher=Blogs.villagevoice.com |date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=April 23, 2011}}</ref> It was released on July 7, 2009.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002EHQZIS Amazon.com: Shining Down (Explicit): Lupe Fiasco: MP3 Downloads]. [[Amazon.com]]. Retrieved on March 16, 2011.</ref> The song had received mixed reviews, with [[Pitchfork Media]] giving it a 5/10 rating, calling it a "bland refix of ''The Cool'''s first single".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/11334-shining-down-ft-matthew-santos/ |title=The Playlist: Lupe Fiasco – "Shining Down" [ft. Matthew Santos] |website=Pitchfork |access-date=April 23, 2011}}</ref> "Shining Down" did not do as well as Fiasco had hoped for, charting only at number 93 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] during its initial run.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lupe fiasco|chart=all}}|title=Lupe Fiasco Album & Song Chart History |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Nielsen Company|Nielsen Business Media]]|access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref> |
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In a February 2010 interview with Australian radio station [[Triple J]], Fiasco revealed that although the album had been submitted to his label, they still had no solid release date for it. He stated: "It's one of the sadder parts of being on a major record label. At a certain point it's out of your hands. About a date for ''Lasers'', it's truly on them. I have no idea what they're going to do."<ref>Staff (April 2, 2010). [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2815727.htm Lupe Fiasco interview with The Doctor | media|triple j]. [[Triple J]]. Retrieved |
In a February 2010 interview with Australian radio station [[Triple J]], Fiasco revealed that although the album had been submitted to his label, they still had no solid release date for it. He stated: "It's one of the sadder parts of being on a major record label. At a certain point it's out of your hands. About a date for ''Lasers'', it's truly on them. I have no idea what they're going to do."<ref>Staff (April 2, 2010). [http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/media/s2815727.htm Lupe Fiasco interview with The Doctor | media|triple j]. [[Triple J]]. Retrieved February 10, 2010.</ref> It has also been reported that Fiasco had initially recorded [[B.o.B]]'s "[[Nothin' on You]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/5544961/who-did-nothin-on-you-better%E2%80%94b-o-b-or-lupe-fiasco |title=Who Did "Nothin' On You" Better—B.o.B Or Lupe Fiasco? | Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on |date=June 22, 2010 |publisher=Idolator.com |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> as well as "[[Airplanes (song)|Airplanes]]" featuring [[Hayley Williams]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Barshad |first=Amos |url=http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/lupe_fiasco_had_bobs_airplanes.html |title=Lupe Fiasco Had B.o.B.'s 'Airplanes' First, Too – Vulture |publisher=Nymag.com |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> but both songs had been rejected by Fiasco's label.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/04/lupes-airplanes-demo-hayley-williams-leaks/ |title=Lupe's "Airplanes" Demo With Hayley Williams Leaks |publisher=SPIN.com |date=April 7, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> Another unreleased song from ''Lasers'' was "Who Are You Now" featuring B.o.B, which has leaked onto the internet in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/03/29/new-music-lupe-fiasco-f-bob-who-are-you-now/ |title=New Music: Lupe Fiasco f/ B.o.B – 'Who Are You Now' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> |
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=== Singles === |
=== Singles === |
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On October 26, 2010, the official lead single from ''Lasers'', "[[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]]", premiered on Fiasco's official website after the initial debut single "I'm Beaming" was removed from the [[iTunes]] store and demoted to a deluxe edition bonus track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lupefiasco.com/theshowgoeson/| |
On October 26, 2010, the official lead single from ''Lasers'', "[[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]]", premiered on Fiasco's official website after the initial debut single "I'm Beaming" was removed from the [[iTunes]] store and demoted to a deluxe edition bonus track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lupefiasco.com/theshowgoeson/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030235041/http://lupefiasco.com/theshowgoeson/|archive-date=October 30, 2010 |title=The Show Goes On |publisher=Lupe Fiasco |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> It was produced by Kane Beatz and interpolates [[Modest Mouse]]'s "[[Float On (Modest Mouse song)|Float On]]" as part of the chorus. The music video for the single was directed by Hiro Murai<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/12/25/video-lupe-fiasco-the-show-goes-on/ |title=Video: Lupe Fiasco – 'The Show Goes On' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=December 25, 2010 |access-date=February 23, 2011}}</ref> and premiered on Fiasco's official website on Christmas day, December 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lupefiasco.com/news/world-premiere-the-show-goes-on-music-video/ |title=WORLD PREMIERE: "The Show Goes On" [Music Video] – Blog Detail |publisher=LupeFiasco.com |date=December 25, 2010 |access-date=February 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714002730/http://www.lupefiasco.com/news/world-premiere-the-show-goes-on-music-video/ |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of June 2011, the song has been certified double [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] in the United States by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] for selling over two million copies, thus making it his second single to go Platinum and first to go double Platinum.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nadeska|last=Alexis|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2011/04/15/lupe-fiasco-goes-platinum-with-the-show-goes-on-single/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Goes Platinum With 'The Show Goes On' Single |publisher=The Boombox |date=April 15, 2011 |access-date=April 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Paine |first=Jake |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.14179/title.lupe-fiascos-the-show-goes-on-certified-double-platinum |title=Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On" Certified Double Platinum | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |date=June 22, 2011 |publisher=HipHop DX |access-date=June 25, 2011}}</ref> "The Show Goes On" has peaked at number nine on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], becoming his highest-charting song on the Hot 100. On other ''Billboard'' charts, "The Show Goes On" has peaked at number 45 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart, 14 on the [[Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)|Pop Songs]] chart and five on the [[Hot Rap Songs]] chart.<ref>[{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lupe fiasco|chart=all}} The Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco | Billboard.com]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved on March 16, 2011.</ref> In Australia, it peaked at number five on the [[ARIA Charts|Australian Singles Chart]]<ref name="Acharts TheShow"/> and has since been certified [[Australian Recording Industry Association|Gold]] for selling over 35,000 units.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.auSINGLEaccreds2011.htm |title=ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Singles |publisher=Aria.com.au |date=April 30, 2011 |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> In Europe, the single has charted on the [[Irish Singles Chart]] where it peaked at number 19, as well as on the [[UK Singles Chart]] peaking at number 49.<ref name="Acharts TheShow">{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/58712 |title=Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On – Music Charts |publisher=Acharts.us |date=March 3, 2010 |access-date=February 23, 2011}}</ref> |
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On January 11, 2011, Fiasco revealed during an interview with [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]'s [[WWKX|Hot 106]] that the follow-up single to "The Show Goes On" is titled "[[Words I Never Said]]", he said about the song that "It's gonna be really big. It's a big, controversial record".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/01/10/lupe-fiasco-preps-controversial-single/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Preps |
On January 11, 2011, Fiasco revealed during an interview with [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]'s [[WWKX|Hot 106]] that the follow-up single to "The Show Goes On" is titled "[[Words I Never Said]]", he said about the song that "It's gonna be really big. It's a big, controversial record".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/01/10/lupe-fiasco-preps-controversial-single/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Preps 'Controversial' Single |publisher=Rap-Up.com |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rodriguez |first=Jayson |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657049/lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204012203/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657049/lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco Gets Political On 'Words I Never Said' – Music, Celebrity, Artist News |publisher=MTV |date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> The song was produced by [[Alex da Kid]] and features American singer-songwriter [[Skylar Grey]].<ref name="CoS"/> "Words I Never Said" was released as a digital download on February 8, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MAB1OS |title=Words I Never Said: Lupe Fiasco: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |access-date=February 8, 2011}}</ref> It has since peaked at number 89 on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/song/61125 |title=Lupe Fiasco and Skylar Grey – Words I Never Said – Music Charts |publisher=Acharts.us |access-date=March 9, 2011}}</ref> A [[teaser trailer]] for the [[Sanaa Hamri]]-directed music video was released in January 2011, while the full clip premiered on April 28, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/04/28/lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said-video/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430015802/http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2011/04/28/lupe-fiasco-words-i-never-said-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |title=Video Premiere: Lupe Fiasco, 'Words I Never Said' |publisher=MTV Buzzworthy Blog |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref> |
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"[[Out of My Head (Lupe Fiasco song)|Out of My Head]]" featuring American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer [[Trey Songz]] was confirmed as the album's third single. The song was released on May 10, 2011 and has since peaked at number 40 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, 11 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart and four on the [[Hot Rap Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite |
"[[Out of My Head (Lupe Fiasco song)|Out of My Head]]" featuring American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer [[Trey Songz]] was confirmed as the album's third single. The song was released on May 10, 2011 and has since peaked at number 40 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, 11 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart and four on the [[Hot Rap Songs]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lupe fiasco|chart=all}} |title=Out of My Head – Lupe Fiasco |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=August 17, 2012}}</ref> The official single cover was revealed on May 23, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lupefiasco.com/news/24eac9-out-of-my-head-ft-trey-songz-single-cover/ |title=Out of My Head Ft. Trey Songz [Single Cover] – Blog Detail |publisher=LupeFiasco.com |date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=May 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527135259/http://www.lupefiasco.com/news/24eac9-out-of-my-head-ft-trey-songz-single-cover/ |archive-date=May 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/05/23/single-cover-lupe-fiasco-f-trey-songz-out-of-my-head/ |title=Single Cover: Lupe Fiasco f/ Trey Songz – 'Out of My Head' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> Fiasco and Songz performed "Out of My Head" live for the first time at the [[2011 MTV Movie Awards]] on June 5, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Markman |first=Rob |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663744/lupe-fiasco-trey-songz-movie-awards.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004633/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663744/lupe-fiasco-trey-songz-movie-awards.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |title=Movie Awards Story | Lupe Fiasco, Trey Songz To Perform at 2011 MTV Movie Awards – Show Story | Headlines |publisher=MTV |date=May 12, 2011 |access-date=June 26, 2011}}</ref> The music video for the single, directed by [[Gil Green (director)|Gil Green]], was released on June 29, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/06/29/lupe-fiasco-and-trey-songz-drop-out-of-my-head-video/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707043343/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/06/29/lupe-fiasco-and-trey-songz-drop-out-of-my-head-video/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco And Trey Songz Drop "Out of My Head" Video |publisher=Rapfix.mtv.com |access-date=June 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/06/29/video-lupe-fiasco-f-trey-songz-out-of-my-head/ |title=Video: Lupe Fiasco f/ Trey Songz – 'Out of My Head' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=June 30, 2011}}</ref> |
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"[[I Don't Wanna Care Right Now]]", featuring MDMA, was confirmed to be the album's fourth single. The single's official music video was released on December 2, 2011 on |
"[[I Don't Wanna Care Right Now]]", featuring MDMA, was confirmed to be the album's fourth single. The single's official music video was released on December 2, 2011 on YouTube. The video was filmed during a concert at [[Iowa State University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/12/02/video-lupe-fiasco-f-mdma-i-dont-wanna-care-right-now/ |title=Video: Lupe Fiasco f/ MDMA – 'I Don't Wanna Care Right Now' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |access-date=February 27, 2012}}</ref> |
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==Critical reception== |
==Critical reception== |
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{{Album ratings |
{{Album ratings |
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| MC = 57/100 |
| MC = 57/100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/lasers/lupe-fiasco|title=Lasers by Lupe Fiasco|work=metacritic.com|access-date=January 15, 2017}}</ref> |
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| rev1 = [[ |
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |
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| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllmusicReview"/> |
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllmusicReview"/> |
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| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' |
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' |
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Line 83: | Line 87: | ||
| rev6 = ''[[The New York Times]]'' |
| rev6 = ''[[The New York Times]]'' |
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| rev6Score = mixed<ref name="NYtimesReview"/> |
| rev6Score = mixed<ref name="NYtimesReview"/> |
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| rev7 = [[Pitchfork |
| rev7 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' |
||
| rev7Score = 3.0/10<ref name="PitchforkReview"/> |
| rev7Score = 3.0/10<ref name="PitchforkReview"/> |
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| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
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Line 92: | Line 96: | ||
| rev10Score = 6/10<ref name="SpinReview"/> |
| rev10Score = 6/10<ref name="SpinReview"/> |
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}} |
}} |
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''Lasers'' received mixed reviews from most |
''Lasers'' received mixed reviews from most music critics.<ref name="Metacritic">[http://www.metacritic.com/music/lasers ''Lasers'' Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More]. [[Metacritic]]. Retrieved on March 10, 2011.</ref> At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 57, based on 27 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".<ref name="Metacritic"/> [[AllMusic]] editor Andy Kellman gave it three out of five stars and criticized its "lumbering, overwrought choruses", writing that "If there is one [[Emcee (hip hop)|MC]] whose rhymes should not be dulled for the sake of chasing pop trends, it's Lupe Fiasco".<ref name="AllmusicReview">{{cite web|last=Kellman |first=Andy |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/lasers-r2124241/review |title=Lasers – Lupe Fiasco |website=AllMusic |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> Jeff Leven of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' gave ''Lasers'' a six out of 10 rating and found its musical arrangements polished and "radio-friendly".<ref>Leven, Jeff (March 22, 2011). [http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/03/lupe-fiasco-lasers.html Lupe Fiasco: Lasers :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste]. ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''. Retrieved on March 24, 2011.</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s Alex Macpherson viewed its content as a concession to pop music trends, panning its "synthy choruses" and "trite empowerment anthems".<ref name="GuardianReview">{{cite news|first=Alex |last=Macpherson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/mar/03/lupe-fiasco-lasers-review |title=Lupe Fiasco: Lasers – review | Music |newspaper=The Guardian |date= March 4, 2011|access-date=March 8, 2011 |location=London}}</ref> Andy Gill of ''[[The Independent]]'' gave the album two out of five stars and criticized Fiasco's lyrics, stating "while his flow has a nice bounce and monotonal glide, too many tracks end with one wondering what exactly he's said, if anything at all".<ref name="IndReview">{{cite news|first=Andy |last=Gill |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-lupe-fiasco-lasers-atlantic-2231459.html |title=Album: Lupe Fiasco, Lasers (Atlantic) – Reviews, Music |newspaper=The Independent |date=March 4, 2011 |access-date=March 11, 2011 |location=London}}</ref> David Amidon of ''[[PopMatters]]'' panned the album as "a disgustingly awkward effort from everyone involved [...] Listenability? Credibility? These, ''Lasers'' is lacking in seismic qualities".<ref name="PMreview">{{cite magazine|last=Amidon |first=David |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/137993-lupe-fiasco-lasers/ |title=Lupe Fiasco: Lasers |magazine=PopMatters |access-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> Brandon Soderberg of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' found it to be affected by crossover tendencies and wrote that "''Lasers'' works best, however, when the grabby hooks, electro beats, and conscious rap rants are all turned down a notch".<ref name="SpinReview">{{cite web|last=Soderberg |first=Brandon |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/lupe-fiasco-lasers-1st-15thatlantic |title=Lupe Fiasco, 'Lasers' (1st & 15th/Atlantic) |date=March 8, 2011 |publisher=SPIN.com |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' writer Todd Martens shared a similar sentiment and commented that the album "feels more like a compromise than a cohesive album".<ref name="LATimesReview">{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/03/album-review-lupe-fiascos-lasers.html |title=Album review: Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' | Pop & Hiss | Los Angeles Times |publisher=Latimesblogs.latimes.com |date= March 7, 2011|access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'}}s Ian Cohen criticized the album for "surveying the current pop-rap landscape and retaining nothing worthwhile", commenting that "''Lasers'' simply ''sounds'' bad, playing against every single one of Lupe Fiasco's strengths and creating new weaknesses".<ref name="PitchforkReview">{{cite web|last=Cohen |first=Ian |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15208-lasers/ |title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Lupe Fiasco: Lasers |website=Pitchfork |date=March 16, 2011 |access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref> |
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However, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Brad Wete complimented its themes and stated "Simply put, ''Lasers'' beams".<ref name="EWreview">{{cite |
However, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Brad Wete complimented its themes and stated "Simply put, ''Lasers'' beams".<ref name="EWreview">{{cite magazine |first=Brad |last=Wete |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/03/02/lasers/ |title=Lasers |magazine=EW.com |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2011 |archive-date=May 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516015344/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20470319,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writer Jon Dolan noted Fiasco's "athletic, whiplash flow and rich imagination" and found the album "shorter, brighter and – most admirably – more optimistic" than his previous album ''The Cool''.<ref name="RSreview">{{cite magazine|first=Jon |last=Dolan |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/lasers-20110308 |title=Lasers by Lupe Fiasco |magazine=Rollingstone.com |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> Despite writing that "[[Rhythm and blues|RnB]] syrup starts to swamp the lyrical invention", [[BBC Music]]'s Johnny Sharp noted "several inspired moments" and commented that "Lupe remains a singular hip hop voice, and ''Lasers'' is still worth a listen".<ref name="BBCMusicReview">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/qg28 |title=Music – Review of Lupe Fiasco – Lasers |publisher=BBC |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> Carrie Battan of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' viewed that "the album's real sweet spots lie somewhere in the brief, breezy middle ground" between "angsty [[Rap metal|rap-metal]] crossover tracks" and "clubby, bass-thumping radio-rap jams".<ref name="BGreview">{{cite news|first=Carrie |last=Battan |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2011/03/08/lupe_fiasco_lasers/ |title=Lupe Fiasco: ''Lasers'' – The Boston Globe |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date= March 8, 2011|access-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Kyle Ryan gave the album a B− and commented that its synthesizers "[give] it an au courant hip-hop sound", but criticized its lyrics and called it "schizophrenic".<ref name="AVClubReview">{{cite news|last=Ryan |first=Kyle |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/lasers,52899/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312095524/http://www.avclub.com/articles/lasers,52899/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |title=Lasers |newspaper=The A.V. Club |access-date=March 9, 2011}}</ref> Steve Jones of ''[[USA Today]]'' gave the album three out of four stars and wrote that it "has several shining moments but falls short of the overall excellence" of his previous albums.<ref name="USATodayReview">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2011-03-08-listen08_ST_N.htm |title=Listen Up: Lupe Fiasco's lyrical 'Lasers' hits most targets |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date= March 8, 2011|access-date=March 8, 2011 |first1=Steve |last1=Jones |first2=Elysa |last2=Gardner |first3=Edna |last3=Gundersen |first4=Brian |last4=Mansfield}}</ref> ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' writer [[Greg Kot]] gave the album two-and-half out of four stars and stated "Its best music shows what it might have been. The rest feels more like an obligation reluctantly met, a difficult bridge to the next phase of Lupe Fiasco's career".<ref name="ChicagoTribuneReview">{{cite news|url=http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2011/03/album-review-lupe-fiasco-lasers.html |title=Turn It Up: Album review: Lupe Fiasco, 'L.A.S.E.R.S.' |publisher=Leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com |date=March 1, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> Jon Caramanica of ''[[The New York Times]]'' expressed a mixed response towards its music and called ''Lasers'' "a chaotic album full of gummy rhymes that look better on the page than they sound to the ear, delivered with a tone of tragic bombast".<ref name="NYtimesReview">{{cite news|first=Jon |last=Caramanica |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/arts/music/lupe-fiasco-introduces-lasers-album-at-webster-hall-review.html?_r=1 |title=Lupe Fiasco Introduces 'Lasers' Album at Webster Hall - Review - NYTimes.com |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=March 11, 2011}}</ref> [[Slant Magazine]]'s Matthew Cole perceived "no bridging the gap between ''Lasers''{{'}}s radical message and its utterly conventional sound", commenting that "In moments of dazzling clarity, Lupe spits hip-hop prophecy, but too much of ''Lasers'' is given over to self-serious jeremiads on race, rap, and politics, or pop-rap pandering".<ref name="Slantreview">{{cite magazine|last=Cole |first=Matthew |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lupe-fiasco-lasers/2423 |title=Lupe Fiasco: Lasers – Music Review |magazine=Slant Magazine |date=March 11, 2011 |access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> |
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== Commercial performance == |
== Commercial performance == |
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The album debuted at number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, with first-week sales of 204,000 copies.<ref>Caulfield, Keith (March 16, 2011). [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472523/lupe-fiascos-lasers-lands-at-no-1-on-billboard-200 Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved on |
The album debuted at number one on the US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, with first-week sales of 204,000 copies.<ref>Caulfield, Keith (March 16, 2011). [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472523/lupe-fiascos-lasers-lands-at-no-1-on-billboard-200 Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. Retrieved on March 16, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rabin |first=Nathan |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/lupe-fiascos-longdelayed-lasers-debuts-at-number-o,53268/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320030731/http://www.avclub.com/articles/lupe-fiascos-longdelayed-lasers-debuts-at-number-o%2C53268/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2011 |title=Lupe Fiasco's long-delayed Lasers debuts at number one |newspaper=The A.V. Club |access-date=March 17, 2011}}</ref> ''Lasers'' marks Fiasco's first number one album on the chart as well as his best selling first-week sales.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Paul |last1=Grein |url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74341/week-ending-march-13-2011-not-a-fiasco/ |title=Week Ending March 13, 2011: Not A Fiasco – Chart Watch |publisher=Yahoo! Music |access-date=March 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320045524/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74341/week-ending-march-13-2011-not-a-fiasco |archive-date=March 20, 2011 }}</ref> The album is Fiasco's second top ten album on the chart with his first album, ''[[Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor|Food & Liquor]]'', debuting at number eight in 2006, and ''[[Lupe Fiasco's The Cool|The Cool]]'' debuting at number 15 in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/03/16/lupe-fiasco-lands-first-no-1-album/ |title=Lupe Fiasco Lands First No. 1 Album |publisher=Rap-Up.com |date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref> In its second week on the chart, it fell to number three selling 47,000 units,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts-articles/chart-alert/rise-against-debuts-at-no-2-adele-s-21-returns-1005085502.story |title=Rise Against Debuts at No. 2, Adele's '21' Returns To No. 1 On Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 24, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326224949/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts-articles/chart-alert/rise-against-debuts-at-no-2-adele-s-21-returns-1005085502.story |url-status=dead }}</ref> while in its third week, it fell to number ten selling an additional 29,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts-articles/chart-alert/chris-brown-nets-first-no-1-album-on-billboard-1005099952.story |title=Chris Brown Nets First No. 1 Album On Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 4, 2010 |access-date=March 31, 2011 |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005163836/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts-articles/chart-alert/chris-brown-nets-first-no-1-album-on-billboard-1005099952.story |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of August 10, 2011, ''Lasers'' has sold approximately 452,000 copies in the United States.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Jacobs|first=Allen|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 8/7/2011|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16375/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-8-7-2011/|magazine=Hip Hop DX|access-date=August 10, 2011|date=August 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007030002/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16375/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-8-7-2011|archive-date=October 7, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Internationally, ''Lasers'' has debuted within the top ten on the Australian and Canadian album charts, while also peaking at number 11 in New Zealand and number 25 in the United Kingdom.<ref name="ACharts Lasers">{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/album/61613 |title=Lupe Fiasco – Lasers – Music Charts |publisher=Acharts.us |access-date=March 20, 2011}}</ref> On March 23, 2014, the album was certified Gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] for shipments of 500,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Lupe+Fiasco&format=&go=Search&perPage=50 |title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - February 01, 2013 |website=[[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date=May 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201072116/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Lupe+Fiasco&format=&go=Search&perPage=50 |archive-date=February 1, 2013 }}</ref> |
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==Track listing== |
==Track listing== |
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Line 105: | Line 109: | ||
| extra_column = Producer(s) |
| extra_column = Producer(s) |
||
| total_length = |
| total_length = |
||
| writing_credits = yes |
|||
| lyrics_credits = |
|||
| music_credits = |
|||
| title1 = Letting Go |
| title1 = Letting Go |
||
| note1 = featuring Sarah Green |
| note1 = featuring Sarah Green |
||
| writer1 = [[Lupe Fiasco|Wasalu Jaco]] |
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Lupe Fiasco|Wasalu Jaco]]|David "King David" Manzoor}} |
||
| extra1 = King David |
| extra1 = King David |
||
| length1 = 4:26 |
| length1 = 4:26 |
||
| title2 = [[Words I Never Said]] |
| title2 = [[Words I Never Said]] |
||
| note2 = featuring [[Skylar Grey]] |
| note2 = featuring [[Skylar Grey]] |
||
| writer2 = Jaco |
| writer2 = {{hlist|Jaco|[[Skylar Grey|Holly Hafermann]]|[[Alex da Kid|Alexander Grant]]}} |
||
| extra2 = [[Alex da Kid]] |
| extra2 = [[Alex da Kid]] |
||
| length2 = 4:16 |
| length2 = 4:16 |
||
| title3 = Till I Get There |
| title3 = Till I Get There |
||
| extra3 = [[Needlz]] |
| extra3 = [[Needlz]] |
||
| writer3 = Jaco |
| writer3 = {{hlist|Jaco|[[Needlz|Khari Cain]]|Ricky Rutland|[[Cassius D. Kalb|Khalil Walton]]}} |
||
| length3 = 3:23 |
| length3 = 3:23 |
||
| title4 = [[I Don't Wanna Care Right Now]] |
| title4 = [[I Don't Wanna Care Right Now]] |
||
| note4 = featuring MDMA |
| note4 = featuring [[Poo Bear|MDMA]] |
||
| writer4 = Jaco |
| writer4 = {{hlist|Jaco|[[Poo Bear|Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd]]|Jimmy Gannos|Dominic Jordan}} |
||
| extra4 = The Audibles |
| extra4 = [[The Audibles]] |
||
| length4 = 4:15 |
| length4 = 4:15 |
||
| title5 = [[Out of My Head (Lupe Fiasco song)|Out of My Head]] |
| title5 = [[Out of My Head (Lupe Fiasco song)|Out of My Head]] |
||
| note5 = featuring [[Trey Songz]] |
| note5 = featuring [[Trey Songz]] |
||
| writer5 = Jaco |
| writer5 = {{hlist|Jaco|Arden Altino|[[Jerry Duplessis]]|Ronnie Jackson|Jesse Wilson|Miykal Snoddy}} |
||
| extra5 = Miykal Snoddy |
| extra5 = Miykal Snoddy |
||
| length5 = 3:24 |
| length5 = 3:24 |
||
| title6 = [[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]] |
| title6 = [[The Show Goes On (song)|The Show Goes On]] |
||
| extra6 = [[Kane Beatz]] |
| extra6 = [[Kane Beatz]] |
||
| writer6 = Jaco |
| writer6 = {{hlist|Jaco|[[Isaac Brock (musician)|Isaac Brock]]|Dustin Brower|Jonathon Brown|[[Dann Gallucci]]|Daniel Johnson|[[Eric Judy]]}} |
||
| length6 = 3:56 |
| length6 = 3:56 |
||
| title7 = Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways) |
| title7 = Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways) |
||
| note7 = featuring MDMA |
| note7 = featuring MDMA |
||
| writer7 = Jaco |
| writer7 = {{hlist|Jaco|Boyd|Manzoor}} |
||
| extra7 = King David |
| extra7 = King David |
||
| length7 = 4:01 |
| length7 = 4:01 |
||
| title8 = Coming Up |
| title8 = Coming Up |
||
| note8 = featuring MDMA |
| note8 = featuring MDMA |
||
| writer8 = Jaco |
| writer8 = {{hlist|Jaco|Boyd|Manzoor}} |
||
| extra8 = King David |
| extra8 = King David |
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| length8 = 3:58 |
| length8 = 3:58 |
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Line 149: | Line 150: | ||
| note9 = featuring [[Matt Mahaffey]] |
| note9 = featuring [[Matt Mahaffey]] |
||
| extra9 = King David |
| extra9 = King David |
||
| writer9 = Jaco |
| writer9 = {{hlist|Jaco|Manzoor}} |
||
| length9 = 3:57 |
| length9 = 3:57 |
||
| title10 = Break the Chain |
| title10 = Break the Chain |
||
| note10 = featuring [[Eric Turner (singer)|Eric Turner]] |
| note10 = featuring [[Eric Turner (singer)|Eric Turner]] and [[Sway DaSafo|Sway]] |
||
| extra10 = iSHi |
| extra10 = [[Eshraque "iSHi" Mughal|iSHi]] |
||
| writer10 = Jaco |
| writer10 = {{hlist|Jaco|Eric Turner|[[Eshraque "iSHi" Mughal|Eshraque Mughal]]|[[Sway DaSafo|Derek Safo]]}} |
||
| length10 = 4:21 |
| length10 = 4:21 |
||
| title11 = All Black Everything |
| title11 = All Black Everything |
||
| extra11 = [[The Buchanans]] |
| extra11 = [[The Buchanans]] |
||
| writer11 = Jaco |
| writer11 = {{hlist|Jaco|Wizzo Buchanan|Sammy Fain|Irving Kahal}} |
||
| length11 = 3:40 |
| length11 = 3:40 |
||
| title12 = Never Forget You |
| title12 = Never Forget You |
||
| note12 = featuring [[John Legend]] |
| note12 = featuring [[John Legend]] |
||
| extra12 = Jerry Duplessis |
| extra12 = {{hlist|Jerry Duplessis|[[Syience]]|Arden Altino}} |
||
| writer12 = Jaco |
| writer12 = {{hlist|Jaco|Altino|Duplessis|[[John Legend|John Stephens]]|[[Syience|Reginald Perry]]}} |
||
| length12 = 4:04 |
| length12 = 4:04 |
||
| title13 = I'm Beamin' |
| title13 = [[I'm Beamin'|I'm Beamin{{'-}}]] |
||
| note13 = Bonus Track |
| note13 = Bonus Track |
||
| extra13 = [[The Neptunes]] |
| extra13 = [[The Neptunes]] |
||
| writer13 = Jaco |
| writer13 = {{hlist|Jaco|[[Pharrell Williams]]|[[Chad Hugo]]}} |
||
| length13 = 4:48 |
| length13 = 4:48 |
||
| title14 = [[Shining Down]] |
| title14 = [[Shining Down]] |
||
| note14 = featuring [[Matthew Santos]]) (Bonus Track |
| note14 = featuring [[Matthew Santos]]) (Bonus Track |
||
| extra14 = Soundtrakk |
| extra14 = Soundtrakk |
||
| writer14 = Jaco |
| writer14 = {{hlist|Jaco|Matthew Santos|Rudolph Lopez}} |
||
| length14 = 4:34 |
| length14 = 4:34 |
||
}} |
}} |
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==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
||
Credits for ''Lasers'' adapted from [[ |
Credits for ''Lasers'' adapted from [[Tidal (service)|Tidal]], [[AllMusic]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/lasers-r2124241/credits |title=Lasers – Lupe Fiasco: Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> and [[Genius.com]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Lupe-fiasco-lasers-credits-lyrics |title=Lupe Fiasco – Lasers [Credits] |publisher=Genius |access-date=December 16, 2015}}</ref> |
||
;Musicians |
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{{div col}} |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
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* Charles "Chilly" Patton – executive producer, management |
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* Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}} |
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* Arden Altino – producer |
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* Sarah Green – featured artist {{small|(track 1)}} |
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* Audibles – producer |
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* Holly "Skylar Grey" Hafermann – featured artist {{small|(track 2)}} |
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* Cory Buchanan – producer |
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* Bradley Bowden – drum programmer {{small|(track 3)}} |
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* Wizzo Buchanan – producer |
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* Ricky Rutland – keyboards {{small|(track 3)}} |
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* Angelo Caputo - Engineer |
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* Jason "MDMA" Boyd – featured artist {{small|(tracks 4, 7–8)}} |
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* Cara Donatto – Publicity |
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* Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – |
* Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – bass guitar {{small|(track 5)}} |
||
* Tremaine "Trey Songz" Neverson – featured artist {{small|(track 5)}} |
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* Lupe Fiasco – executive producer |
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* Daniel "Kane Beatz" Johnson – additional vocals {{small|(track 6)}} |
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* Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering |
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* JR Get Money – additional vocals {{small|(track 6)}} |
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* Dan Manzoor – bass {{small|(tracks 7–8)}}; guitar {{small|(track 7)}} |
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* David "King David" Manzoor – drums & keyboards {{small|(tracks 7–9)}} |
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* Trevor Astey – guitar {{small|(track 8)}} |
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* Matt "sELF" Mahaffey – featured artist {{small|(track 9)}} |
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* Michael Herring – bass & guitar {{small|(track 9)}} |
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* Prescott Ellison – drums {{small|(track 9)}} |
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* Eric Turner – featured artist {{small|(track 10)}} |
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* Derek "Sway" Safo – featured artist {{small|(track 10)}} |
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* John "John Legend" Stephens – featured artist {{small|(track 12)}} |
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* Matthew Santos – featured artist {{small|(track 14)}} |
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{{div col end}} |
|||
;Production |
|||
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}} |
|||
* Lupe Fiasco – songwriting {{small|(all tracks)}} |
|||
* Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering {{small|(all tracks)}} |
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* Joe Peluso – additional engineering {{small|(tracks 1–4, 10, 12)}}; recording {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 9)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 3–4, 7–8)}} |
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* King David – songwriting, production {{small|(tracks 1, 7–9)}} |
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* Josh Berg – mixing assistance {{small|(tracks 1, 7)}} |
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* Tucker Robinson – {{small|(tracks 1, 3)}} |
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* Skylar Grey – songwriting, vocal engineering, vocal production {{small|(track 2)}} |
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* Alexander "Alex da Kid" Grant – songwriting, production {{small|(track 2)}} |
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* Manny Marroquinn – mixing {{small|(track 2)}} |
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* Erik Madrid – mixing assistance {{small|(track 2)}} |
|||
* Blast Off Productions – recording {{small|(track 2)}} |
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* Khari "Needlz" Cain – songwriting, production {{small|(track 3)}} |
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* Ricky Rutland – songwriting {{small|(track 3)}} |
|||
* Khalil "Saint Cassius" Walton – songwriting {{small|(track 3)}} |
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* MDMA – songwriting {{small|(tracks 4, 7–8)}}; production {{small|(track 7)}} |
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* Jimmy "Jimmy G" Giannos – songwriting {{small|(track 4)}} |
|||
* Dominic "DJ Mecca" Jordan – songwriting {{small|(track 4)}} |
|||
* The Audibles – production {{small|(track 4)}} |
|||
* Greg "G-Ball" Magers – recording {{small|(tracks 4, 10–11)}} |
|||
* Angelo Caputo – additional recording {{small|(track 4)}} |
|||
* Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – songwriting {{small|(track 5)}}; production {{small|(tracks 4, 12)}} |
|||
* Arden "Keyz" Altino – songwriting {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}; co-production {{small|(track 5)}}; production {{small|(track 12)}} |
|||
* Ronnie Jackson – songwriting {{small|(track 5)}} |
|||
* Jesse Wilson – songwriting {{small|(track 5)}} |
|||
* Michael "Miykal" Snoddy – songwriting, production {{small|(track 5)}} |
|||
* Serge Tsai – recording {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}; mixing {{small|(track 12)}} |
|||
* Koby Hass – recording {{small|(track 5)}} |
|||
* Nathaniel "You Can Ask Giz" Robinson – mixing {{small|(track 5)}} |
|||
* Kane Beatz – songwriting, production {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Isaac Brock – songwriting {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Dustin Brower – songwriting {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Jonathon Brown – songwriting {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Dann Gallucci – songwriting {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Eric Judy – songwriting {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Dave Pensado – mixing {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Jaycen-Joshua Fowler – mixing {{small|(track 6)}} |
|||
* Trevor Astey – additional engineering {{small|(track 7)}}; recording {{small|(track 9)}} |
|||
* Claudio Cuenti – recording {{small|(track 7)}} |
|||
* Ghazi Hourani – engineering assistance {{small|(track 9)}} |
|||
* Matt Mahaffey – vocal engineering, vocal production {{small|(track 9)}} |
|||
* Eshraque "iSHi" Mughal – songwriting, production {{small|(track 10)}} |
|||
* Eric Turner – songwriting {{small|(track 10)}} |
|||
* Sway – songwriting {{small|(track 10)}} |
|||
* The Buchanans – production {{small|(track 11)}} |
|||
* Wizzo Buchanan – songwriting, production {{small|(track 11)}} |
|||
* Cory Buchanan – co-production {{small|(track 11)}} |
|||
* Sammy Fain – songwriting {{small|(track 11)}} |
|||
* Irving Kahal – songwriting {{small|(track 11)}} |
|||
* John Legend – songwriting {{small|(track 12)}} |
|||
* Reginald "Syience" Perry – production {{small|(track 12)}} |
|||
* Gabe Robles – mixing assistance {{small|(track 12)}} |
|||
* Warren Babson – mixing assistance {{small|(track 12)}}; recording {{small|(track 12)}} |
|||
* Pharrell Williams – songwriting {{small|(track 13)}} |
|||
* Chad Hugo – songwriting {{small|(track 13)}} |
|||
* The Neptunes – production {{small|(track 13)}} |
|||
* Ramon Rivas – engineering assistance {{small|(track 13)}} |
|||
* Andrew Coleman – digital editing, recording {{small|(track 13)}} |
|||
* Fabian Marasciullo – mixing {{small|(track 13)}} |
|||
* Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – songwriting, production {{small|(track 14)}} |
|||
{{div col end}} |
|||
{{col-begin}} |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
;Visuals and design |
|||
* Rob Gold – art manager |
* Rob Gold – art manager |
||
* Skylar Grey – vocal engineer, vocal producer |
|||
* iSHi – producer |
|||
* Darrale Jones – executive producer |
|||
* Kane Beatz – producer |
|||
* Alex Da Kid – producer |
|||
* King David – producer |
|||
* Janice Kinjo – grooming |
|||
* Deborah Mannis-Gardner – sample clearance |
|||
* Matt Mahaffey – vocal engineer, vocal producer |
|||
* Needlz – producer |
|||
* OAK – art direction, design |
* OAK – art direction, design |
||
* Janice Kinjo – grooming |
|||
* Joe Peluso – engineer, recording manager |
|||
* Brian Ranney – package production |
|||
* Miykal Snoddy – producer |
|||
* Marsha St. Hubert – marketing |
|||
* Syience – producer |
|||
* Andrew Zaeh – photography |
* Andrew Zaeh – photography |
||
* Brian Ranney – package production |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
;Managerial |
|||
{{div col end}} |
|||
* Lupe Fiasco – executive production |
|||
* Charles "Chilly" Patton – executive production, management |
|||
* Darrale Jones – co-executive production |
|||
* Deborah Mannis-Gardner – sample clearance |
|||
* Marsha St. Hubert – marketer |
|||
* Cara Donatto – publicity |
|||
{{col-end}} |
|||
==Charts== |
==Charts== |
||
{{col-start}} |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
===Weekly charts=== |
|||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="col" |
! scope="col"| Chart (2011) |
||
! scope="col" |
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Australia|4|artist=Lupe Fiasco|album=Lasers|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[ARIA Charts|Australian Albums Chart]]<ref name="ACharts Lasers">{{cite web|url=http://acharts.us/album/61613 |title=Lupe Fiasco - Lasers - Music Charts |publisher=Acharts.us |date= |accessdate=2011-03-20}}</ref> |
|||
| 4 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
! scope="row" |
! scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums ([[ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_urban.asp?chart=1Q40RB&chart2=1R40RB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110425000824/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_urban.asp?chart=1Q40RB&chart2=1R40RB|archive-date=April 25, 2011 |title=Top 40 Urban Albums & Singles Chart – Australian Record Industry Association |publisher=Ariacharts.com.au |access-date=April 21, 2011}}</ref> |
||
| 2 |
| 2 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|4|artist=Lupe Fiasco|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[Canadian Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/2011-03-26/canadian-albums|title=Canadian Albums: Week of March 26, 2011|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|accessdate=2011-03-17}}</ref> |
|||
| 4 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Netherlands|52|artist=Lupe Fiasco|album=Lasers|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[MegaCharts|Dutch Albums Chart]]<ref name="ACharts Lasers"/> |
|||
| 52 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|France|145|artist=Lupe Fiasco|album=Lasers|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|French Albums Chart]]<ref name="ACharts Lasers"/> |
|||
| 145 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Ireland2|27|artist=Lupe Fiasco|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[Irish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2011&year=2011&week=10 |
|||
|title=Irish Music Charts Archive: Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 10 March 2011|date=2011-03-10|publisher=[[Chart-Track]]. [[GfK]]|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref> |
|||
| 27 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|New Zealand|11|artist=Lupe Fiasco|album=Lasers|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|New Zealand Albums Chart]]<ref name="ACharts Lasers"/> |
|||
| 11 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Scotland|39|date=20110313|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[Scottish Singles and Albums Chart|Scottish Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/23/2011-03-19/ |title=Archive Chart |publisher=Theofficialcharts.com |date=2011-03-19 |accessdate=2011-03-27 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/69sw0BuDs?url=http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/23/2011-03-19/ |archivedate=2012-08-13 |df= }}</ref> |
|||
| 39 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|UK2|25|date=20110313|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | [[UK Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/2011-03-19/|title=Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive: 19th March 2011|publisher=[[The Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=2011-03-13|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/69sw10Uz9?url=http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/2011-03-19/|archivedate=2012-08-13|df=}}</ref> |
|||
| 25 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|UKR&B|4|date=20110313|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | UK [[UK R&B Chart|R&B Albums Chart]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/17/2011-03-19/ |title=Archive Chart |publisher=Theofficialcharts.com |date=2011-03-19 |accessdate=2011-03-27 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/69sw1gQ4k?url=http://www.officialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/17/2011-03-19/ |archivedate=2012-08-13 |df= }}</ref> |
|||
| 4 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Lupe Fiasco|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | US [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472523/lupe-fiascos-lasers-lands-at-no-1-on-billboard-200|title=Lupe Fiasco's 'Lasers' Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200|date=2011-03-16|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|location=Los Angeles|accessdate=2011-03-16}}</ref> |
|||
| 1 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Lupe Fiasco|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | US ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]]<ref name="BillboardCharts">{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lupe fiasco|chart=all}} |title=Lasers - Lupe Fiasco |publisher=Billboard.com |date=2011-03-26 |accessdate=2012-08-17}}</ref> |
|||
| 1 |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{album chart|BillboardRap|1|artist=Lupe Fiasco|rowheader=true|access-date=October 9, 2020}} |
|||
! scope="row" | US ''Billboard'' [[Top Rap Albums|Rap Albums]]<ref name="BillboardCharts"/> |
|||
| 1 |
|||
|} |
|} |
||
{{col-2}} |
|||
===Year-end charts=== |
|||
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="col"| Chart (2011) |
|||
! scope="col"| Position |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
| 59 |
|||
|- |
|||
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2011/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2011|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
| 15 |
|||
|} |
|||
{{col-end}} |
|||
==Certifications== |
|||
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Lasers''}} |
|||
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Lupe Fiasco|title=Lasers|award=Gold|relyear=2011|certyear=2015|refname="RIAA"}} |
|||
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}} |
|||
==Release history== |
==Release history== |
||
Line 264: | Line 350: | ||
! Region |
! Region |
||
! Date |
! Date |
||
! |
! Label |
||
! Format |
! Format |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 270: | Line 356: | ||
| March 4, 2011 |
| March 4, 2011 |
||
| [[Warner Music Group]] |
| [[Warner Music Group]] |
||
| rowspan="9" |
| rowspan="9"|CD, digital download |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.co.uk: Music |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |date= |
| United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.co.uk: Music |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> |
||
| rowspan="2"| March 7, 2011 |
| rowspan="2"| March 7, 2011 |
||
| rowspan="3"|[[Atlantic Records]] |
| rowspan="3"|[[Atlantic Records]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| France<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.fr: Musique |publisher=Amazon.fr |date= |
| France<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.fr: Musique |publisher=Amazon.fr |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| United States<ref>{{cite web |
| United States<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Music |website=Amazon |date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> |
||
| rowspan="2"| March 8, 2011 |
| rowspan="2"| March 8, 2011 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.ca: Music |publisher=Amazon.ca |date=2011 |
| Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.ca: Music |publisher=Amazon.ca |date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=April 3, 2011}}</ref> |
||
| Warner Music Group |
| Warner Music Group |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Japan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B004HETQ1E |title=Amazon.co.jp: レイザーズ(初回限定スペシャル・プライス): ルーペ・フィアスコ: 音楽 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |date= |
| Japan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B004HETQ1E |title=Amazon.co.jp: レイザーズ(初回限定スペシャル・プライス): ルーペ・フィアスコ: 音楽 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |access-date=February 18, 2011}}</ref> |
||
| March 23, 2011 |
| March 23, 2011 |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Germany<ref name="Amazon.de Lasers">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.de: Musik |publisher=Amazon.de |date=2009 |
| Germany<ref name="Amazon.de Lasers">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/dp/B004IOP3R4 |title=Lasers: Lupe Fiasco: Amazon.de: Musik |publisher=Amazon.de |date=September 9, 2009 |access-date=April 2, 2011}}</ref> |
||
| rowspan="3"| April 29, 2011 |
| rowspan="3"| April 29, 2011 |
||
| rowspan="3"|Atlantic Records |
| rowspan="3"|Atlantic Records |
||
Line 310: | Line 396: | ||
{{Lupe Fiasco}} |
{{Lupe Fiasco}} |
||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
[[Category:2011 albums]] |
[[Category:2011 albums]] |
||
[[Category:Lupe Fiasco albums]] |
[[Category:Lupe Fiasco albums]] |
||
[[Category:Albums produced by Lupe Fiasco]] |
|||
[[Category:Albums produced by Alex da Kid]] |
[[Category:Albums produced by Alex da Kid]] |
||
[[Category:Albums produced by |
[[Category:Albums produced by the Neptunes]] |
||
[[Category:Albums produced by Needlz]] |
[[Category:Albums produced by Needlz]] |
||
[[Category:Albums produced by Kane Beatz]] |
[[Category:Albums produced by Kane Beatz]] |
||
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]] |
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:2010s concept albums]] |
Latest revision as of 08:02, 10 December 2024
Lasers | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 7, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2008–2010 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 57:03 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
Lupe Fiasco chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Lasers | ||||
|
Lasers is the third studio album by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released on March 7, 2011 by Atlantic Records. Production for the album took place between 2008 and 2010. Lasers features production by The Audibles, The Neptunes, Needlz, Alex da Kid, Syience, and long-time collaborator Soundtrakk, among others. Trey Songz, John Legend, Skylar Grey, Sway, Matt Mahaffey, MDMA, Eric Turner and Sarah Green contribute vocals to the album.
Lasers was preceded by the lead single "The Show Goes On" and its follow-up "Words I Never Said" featuring Skylar Grey. The former became Fiasco's highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been certified double Platinum in the US. The latter, however, only achieved moderate success on the Hot 100.
The album has received mixed reviews from most major music critics, having a score of 57 out of 100 at the review aggregator Metacritic. It fared well commercially however, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of over 200,000 copies sold, making the album Fiasco's second top ten album as well as his highest entry on the chart.[6]
Background
[edit]Lupe Fiasco was supposedly going to release a triple album, titled LupE.N.D. as his third and final record, but his contract with Atlantic Records prevented him from doing so. From then he postponed LupE.N.D. indefinitely and intended on releasing an album tentatively titled The Great American Rap Album in June 2009.[7] Instead, the album was also postponed and he announced that a new album was in the works, originally titled We Are Lasers and then changed to Lasers. "Lasers" is a backronym for "Love Always Shines Everytime, Remember 2 Smile".[8] Referring to the title of the album, Fiasco has stated: "I've always had that word in my head, I'm a word guy. And I thought 'lasers' would be a dope name for an album, so when I came up with it I just put it in my 'think-tank' and let it evolve and came up with different meanings for it. That’s why I made it an acronym [sic] to give it a new mould, a new understanding, but still playing off the idea that it's bringing light to different circumstances which is what I try and do – bringing understanding and light and awareness to different projects that are going on in the world, and 'L.A.S.E.R.S' is no different.[9]
In 2010, to promote the message of the album, Fiasco released a viral video onto the internet titled "The L.A.S.E.R.S. Manifesto", which can be found on both YouTube and the official website. The manifesto reads:[10][11]
To every man, woman & child... We want an end to the glamorization of negativity in the media. We want an end to status symbols dictating our worth as individuals. We want a meaningful and universal education system. We want substance in the place of popularity. We will not compromise who we are to be accepted by the crowd. We want the invisible walls that separate by wealth, race & class to be torn down. We want to think our own thoughts. We will be responsible for our environment. We want clarity & truth from our elected officials or they should move aside. We want love not lies. We want an end to all wars foreign & domestic violence. We want an end to the processed culture of exploitation, over-consumption & waste. We want knowledge, understanding & peace. We will not lose because we are not losers, we are lasers! Lasers are revolutionary. Lasers are the future.
On January 4, 2011, Billboard revealed two guest appearances on Fiasco's album Lasers. The guests confirmed were Trey Songz and British rapper Sway. In the interview with Billboard, Fiasco expressed his thoughts on music piracy and fighting track leaks on various blogs.[12] Speaking about the problems with his record label, Fiasco has stated: "I think I set the precedent for record labels — showed everyone that you can have rappers that don't fit the format and still have a presence [...] You look at a person like me, or Kanye [West], and it was sort of a shock to the system. I definitely think I was part of changing that, and an influence to a lot dudes that are coming out today."[12]
In a 2011 interview with MTV UK, Fiasco said that the album "doesn't have a storyline, whereas The Cool was a concept album and this is more just a collection of songs that share some of the same tones, which is basically just positivity and consciousness. Some of the records are controversial, but it's less cohesive than The Cool."[13] Talking about the album with Details, Fiasco has stated that he wanted to make "a popular record [...] but by my definition of popular [...] an uprising of the people".[14] He has also stated that the creation of the album was "a very painful, dark, fucked-up process."[14]
In a February 2011 interview with Complex, Fiasco has stated:[15]
One thing I try to stress about this project is, I love and hate this album. I listen to it and I’ll like some of the songs. But when I think about what it took to actually get the record together and everything that I went through on this record – which is something I can't separate – I hate this album. A lot of the songs that are on the album, I’m kinda neutral to. Not that I don't like them, or that I hate them, it's just I know the process that went behind it. I know the sneaky business deal that went down behind this song, or the artist or singer or songwriter who wrote this hook and didn't want to give me this song in the first place. So when I have that kind of knowledge behind it, I’m just kind of neutral to it like, ‘Another day, another dollar’. As opposed something like The Cool, which is more of my own blood, sweat, and tears, and my own control. With this record, I’m little bit more neutral as to the love for the record. I don't like the process behind Lasers. The music is dope but I just don't like the process. We were literally at the point where all this music was done except for a couple songs that we did after the protest. So the bulk of the album was done. And we were talking about shelving the album and going to another label, that's where we were like, ‘If you put the record out, put it out. Either move on to another album or can it and we’ll do other records at another label’. The business of it got solved. I’m happy for the fans, this is their album. This is the album that they fought for and that's what made me do songs like ‘Words I Never Said’ and ‘All Black Everything’.
Speaking about the album with the Chicago Sun-Times, Fiasco has stated: "Lasers is a great album. I'm actually happy with the record. I feel I got to say what I wanted even with – It doesn't make up for what it took to get through it. It's still being argued and debated upon. ... The climate of this record was very weird, in some instances surreal. I became very abstract. I had to create this commercial art that appeases the corporate side. I had to acquiesce to certain forces. Hopefully within that I snuck in some things I actually wanted to say any way I can."[16] In an interview with The Guardian, Fiasco has expressed that during the recording process of the album he has dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts: "It was mentally destructive. I say it with a certain laissez-faire now because I'm past it [...]. I was super-depressed, lightly suicidal, at moments medium suicidal – and if not suicidal, willing to just walk away from it all completely."[17] A remix of the song "All Black Everything" featuring Chamillionaire was released in April 2011 for free download.[18]
Release conflict and petition
[edit]Lupe Fiasco had announced on Twitter that the album was complete and was waiting for Atlantic Records to release it. A fan awaiting the release of the album, put together an online petition with the help of Rhymestyle from the "LupEND Blog" fan site, demanding that Atlantic Records release Lasers, due to the fact that the album was announced for a 2010 release and at the time still did not have a release date.[19][20] The petition garnered considerable attention on hip hop blog sites and attained over 5,000 signatures on its first day.[21] In response to the petition, Lupe Fiasco released a song titled "B.M.F. (Building Minds Faster)" (a remix of "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" by Rick Ross) as a gift for his fans.[22] The story was featured on many websites, including CNN[23][24] and MTV.[25][26][27] On October 7, 2010, Lupe Fiasco posted a picture of himself with Atlantic president, Julie Greenwald.[28] On October 8, Atlantic Records revealed that the release date for Lasers would be March 8, 2011.[29] Even though the release date of the album had been confirmed prior, a number of fans protested outside Atlantic Records' offices in New York City on October 15, 2010. Protest co-organizer Matthew La Corte has told The Village Voice that it should be considered as a "celebration of the release and everyone's hard work".[30][31] Lupe Fiasco also attended, and gave a speech.[27][29]
Speaking in a March 2011 interview with New York about the support that his fans have given him to release the album, Fiasco has said: "It was amazing, humbling, and inspiring, to the point where I went back in the studio and did more records … it made everything real, that your music is actually something that people want. And it's something that is successful, not in selling records, but the way it moves people and inspires them to do better for themselves."[32][33]
Singles and leaked material
[edit]During a concert at Boston College, Fiasco played the chorus of a song called "Shining Down", which eventually led to a snippet being leaked onto the internet.[34] On May 17, 2009, a low quality version of the single leaked onto the internet, possibly stemming from a rip from the "FNF TV Stream".[35] "Shining Down" was intended to be the first single from Everywhere, the first of the three CDs that LupE.N.D. would have been composed of.[36] But because its release was withheld, there was speculation circulating that it may be the first single from Lasers. Fiasco later confirmed that it is in fact the first single from the album. The song was produced by Soundtrakk and featured Matthew Santos, in the same collaborative manner that Fiasco featured Santos on his hit lead single, "Superstar" from his second album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool.[37] It was released on July 7, 2009.[38] The song had received mixed reviews, with Pitchfork Media giving it a 5/10 rating, calling it a "bland refix of The Cool's first single".[39] "Shining Down" did not do as well as Fiasco had hoped for, charting only at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 during its initial run.[40]
In a February 2010 interview with Australian radio station Triple J, Fiasco revealed that although the album had been submitted to his label, they still had no solid release date for it. He stated: "It's one of the sadder parts of being on a major record label. At a certain point it's out of your hands. About a date for Lasers, it's truly on them. I have no idea what they're going to do."[41] It has also been reported that Fiasco had initially recorded B.o.B's "Nothin' on You"[42] as well as "Airplanes" featuring Hayley Williams,[43] but both songs had been rejected by Fiasco's label.[44] Another unreleased song from Lasers was "Who Are You Now" featuring B.o.B, which has leaked onto the internet in March 2011.[45]
Singles
[edit]On October 26, 2010, the official lead single from Lasers, "The Show Goes On", premiered on Fiasco's official website after the initial debut single "I'm Beaming" was removed from the iTunes store and demoted to a deluxe edition bonus track.[46] It was produced by Kane Beatz and interpolates Modest Mouse's "Float On" as part of the chorus. The music video for the single was directed by Hiro Murai[47] and premiered on Fiasco's official website on Christmas day, December 25, 2010.[48] As of June 2011, the song has been certified double Platinum in the United States by the RIAA for selling over two million copies, thus making it his second single to go Platinum and first to go double Platinum.[49][50] "The Show Goes On" has peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his highest-charting song on the Hot 100. On other Billboard charts, "The Show Goes On" has peaked at number 45 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, 14 on the Pop Songs chart and five on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[51] In Australia, it peaked at number five on the Australian Singles Chart[52] and has since been certified Gold for selling over 35,000 units.[53] In Europe, the single has charted on the Irish Singles Chart where it peaked at number 19, as well as on the UK Singles Chart peaking at number 49.[52]
On January 11, 2011, Fiasco revealed during an interview with Providence's Hot 106 that the follow-up single to "The Show Goes On" is titled "Words I Never Said", he said about the song that "It's gonna be really big. It's a big, controversial record".[54][55] The song was produced by Alex da Kid and features American singer-songwriter Skylar Grey.[2] "Words I Never Said" was released as a digital download on February 8, 2011.[56] It has since peaked at number 89 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[57] A teaser trailer for the Sanaa Hamri-directed music video was released in January 2011, while the full clip premiered on April 28, 2011.[58]
"Out of My Head" featuring American R&B singer Trey Songz was confirmed as the album's third single. The song was released on May 10, 2011 and has since peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and four on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[59] The official single cover was revealed on May 23, 2011.[60][61] Fiasco and Songz performed "Out of My Head" live for the first time at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards on June 5, 2011.[62] The music video for the single, directed by Gil Green, was released on June 29, 2011.[63][64]
"I Don't Wanna Care Right Now", featuring MDMA, was confirmed to be the album's fourth single. The single's official music video was released on December 2, 2011 on YouTube. The video was filmed during a concert at Iowa State University.[65]
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 57/100[66] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [67] |
Chicago Tribune | [68] |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[69] |
The Guardian | [70] |
Los Angeles Times | [71] |
The New York Times | mixed[72] |
Pitchfork | 3.0/10[73] |
Rolling Stone | [74] |
Slant Magazine | [75] |
Spin | 6/10[76] |
Lasers received mixed reviews from most music critics.[77] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 57, based on 27 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".[77] AllMusic editor Andy Kellman gave it three out of five stars and criticized its "lumbering, overwrought choruses", writing that "If there is one MC whose rhymes should not be dulled for the sake of chasing pop trends, it's Lupe Fiasco".[67] Jeff Leven of Paste gave Lasers a six out of 10 rating and found its musical arrangements polished and "radio-friendly".[78] The Guardian's Alex Macpherson viewed its content as a concession to pop music trends, panning its "synthy choruses" and "trite empowerment anthems".[70] Andy Gill of The Independent gave the album two out of five stars and criticized Fiasco's lyrics, stating "while his flow has a nice bounce and monotonal glide, too many tracks end with one wondering what exactly he's said, if anything at all".[79] David Amidon of PopMatters panned the album as "a disgustingly awkward effort from everyone involved [...] Listenability? Credibility? These, Lasers is lacking in seismic qualities".[80] Brandon Soderberg of Spin found it to be affected by crossover tendencies and wrote that "Lasers works best, however, when the grabby hooks, electro beats, and conscious rap rants are all turned down a notch".[76] Los Angeles Times writer Todd Martens shared a similar sentiment and commented that the album "feels more like a compromise than a cohesive album".[71] Pitchfork's Ian Cohen criticized the album for "surveying the current pop-rap landscape and retaining nothing worthwhile", commenting that "Lasers simply sounds bad, playing against every single one of Lupe Fiasco's strengths and creating new weaknesses".[73]
However, Entertainment Weekly's Brad Wete complimented its themes and stated "Simply put, Lasers beams".[69] Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan noted Fiasco's "athletic, whiplash flow and rich imagination" and found the album "shorter, brighter and – most admirably – more optimistic" than his previous album The Cool.[74] Despite writing that "RnB syrup starts to swamp the lyrical invention", BBC Music's Johnny Sharp noted "several inspired moments" and commented that "Lupe remains a singular hip hop voice, and Lasers is still worth a listen".[81] Carrie Battan of The Boston Globe viewed that "the album's real sweet spots lie somewhere in the brief, breezy middle ground" between "angsty rap-metal crossover tracks" and "clubby, bass-thumping radio-rap jams".[82] The A.V. Club's Kyle Ryan gave the album a B− and commented that its synthesizers "[give] it an au courant hip-hop sound", but criticized its lyrics and called it "schizophrenic".[83] Steve Jones of USA Today gave the album three out of four stars and wrote that it "has several shining moments but falls short of the overall excellence" of his previous albums.[84] Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot gave the album two-and-half out of four stars and stated "Its best music shows what it might have been. The rest feels more like an obligation reluctantly met, a difficult bridge to the next phase of Lupe Fiasco's career".[68] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times expressed a mixed response towards its music and called Lasers "a chaotic album full of gummy rhymes that look better on the page than they sound to the ear, delivered with a tone of tragic bombast".[72] Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole perceived "no bridging the gap between Lasers's radical message and its utterly conventional sound", commenting that "In moments of dazzling clarity, Lupe spits hip-hop prophecy, but too much of Lasers is given over to self-serious jeremiads on race, rap, and politics, or pop-rap pandering".[75]
Commercial performance
[edit]The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 204,000 copies.[85][86] Lasers marks Fiasco's first number one album on the chart as well as his best selling first-week sales.[87] The album is Fiasco's second top ten album on the chart with his first album, Food & Liquor, debuting at number eight in 2006, and The Cool debuting at number 15 in 2007.[88] In its second week on the chart, it fell to number three selling 47,000 units,[89] while in its third week, it fell to number ten selling an additional 29,000 copies.[90] As of August 10, 2011, Lasers has sold approximately 452,000 copies in the United States.[91] Internationally, Lasers has debuted within the top ten on the Australian and Canadian album charts, while also peaking at number 11 in New Zealand and number 25 in the United Kingdom.[92] On March 23, 2014, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 500,000 copies.[93]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Letting Go" (featuring Sarah Green) |
| King David | 4:26 |
2. | "Words I Never Said" (featuring Skylar Grey) | Alex da Kid | 4:16 | |
3. | "Till I Get There" |
| Needlz | 3:23 |
4. | "I Don't Wanna Care Right Now" (featuring MDMA) |
| The Audibles | 4:15 |
5. | "Out of My Head" (featuring Trey Songz) |
| Miykal Snoddy | 3:24 |
6. | "The Show Goes On" |
| Kane Beatz | 3:56 |
7. | "Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways)" (featuring MDMA) |
| King David | 4:01 |
8. | "Coming Up" (featuring MDMA) |
| King David | 3:58 |
9. | "State Run Radio" (featuring Matt Mahaffey) |
| King David | 3:57 |
10. | "Break the Chain" (featuring Eric Turner and Sway) |
| iSHi | 4:21 |
11. | "All Black Everything" |
| The Buchanans | 3:40 |
12. | "Never Forget You" (featuring John Legend) |
|
| 4:04 |
13. | "I'm Beamin'" (Bonus Track) | The Neptunes | 4:48 | |
14. | "Shining Down" (featuring Matthew Santos) (Bonus Track) |
| Soundtrakk | 4:34 |
Personnel
[edit]Credits for Lasers adapted from Tidal, AllMusic,[94] and Genius.com.[95]
- Musicians
- Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – vocals (all tracks)
- Sarah Green – featured artist (track 1)
- Holly "Skylar Grey" Hafermann – featured artist (track 2)
- Bradley Bowden – drum programmer (track 3)
- Ricky Rutland – keyboards (track 3)
- Jason "MDMA" Boyd – featured artist (tracks 4, 7–8)
- Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – bass guitar (track 5)
- Tremaine "Trey Songz" Neverson – featured artist (track 5)
- Daniel "Kane Beatz" Johnson – additional vocals (track 6)
- JR Get Money – additional vocals (track 6)
- Dan Manzoor – bass (tracks 7–8); guitar (track 7)
- David "King David" Manzoor – drums & keyboards (tracks 7–9)
- Trevor Astey – guitar (track 8)
- Matt "sELF" Mahaffey – featured artist (track 9)
- Michael Herring – bass & guitar (track 9)
- Prescott Ellison – drums (track 9)
- Eric Turner – featured artist (track 10)
- Derek "Sway" Safo – featured artist (track 10)
- John "John Legend" Stephens – featured artist (track 12)
- Matthew Santos – featured artist (track 14)
- Production
- Lupe Fiasco – songwriting (all tracks)
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering (all tracks)
- Joe Peluso – additional engineering (tracks 1–4, 10, 12); recording (tracks 1, 3, 9); mixing (tracks 1, 3–4, 7–8)
- King David – songwriting, production (tracks 1, 7–9)
- Josh Berg – mixing assistance (tracks 1, 7)
- Tucker Robinson – (tracks 1, 3)
- Skylar Grey – songwriting, vocal engineering, vocal production (track 2)
- Alexander "Alex da Kid" Grant – songwriting, production (track 2)
- Manny Marroquinn – mixing (track 2)
- Erik Madrid – mixing assistance (track 2)
- Blast Off Productions – recording (track 2)
- Khari "Needlz" Cain – songwriting, production (track 3)
- Ricky Rutland – songwriting (track 3)
- Khalil "Saint Cassius" Walton – songwriting (track 3)
- MDMA – songwriting (tracks 4, 7–8); production (track 7)
- Jimmy "Jimmy G" Giannos – songwriting (track 4)
- Dominic "DJ Mecca" Jordan – songwriting (track 4)
- The Audibles – production (track 4)
- Greg "G-Ball" Magers – recording (tracks 4, 10–11)
- Angelo Caputo – additional recording (track 4)
- Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – songwriting (track 5); production (tracks 4, 12)
- Arden "Keyz" Altino – songwriting (tracks 5, 12); co-production (track 5); production (track 12)
- Ronnie Jackson – songwriting (track 5)
- Jesse Wilson – songwriting (track 5)
- Michael "Miykal" Snoddy – songwriting, production (track 5)
- Serge Tsai – recording (tracks 5, 12); mixing (track 12)
- Koby Hass – recording (track 5)
- Nathaniel "You Can Ask Giz" Robinson – mixing (track 5)
- Kane Beatz – songwriting, production (track 6)
- Isaac Brock – songwriting (track 6)
- Dustin Brower – songwriting (track 6)
- Jonathon Brown – songwriting (track 6)
- Dann Gallucci – songwriting (track 6)
- Eric Judy – songwriting (track 6)
- Dave Pensado – mixing (track 6)
- Jaycen-Joshua Fowler – mixing (track 6)
- Trevor Astey – additional engineering (track 7); recording (track 9)
- Claudio Cuenti – recording (track 7)
- Ghazi Hourani – engineering assistance (track 9)
- Matt Mahaffey – vocal engineering, vocal production (track 9)
- Eshraque "iSHi" Mughal – songwriting, production (track 10)
- Eric Turner – songwriting (track 10)
- Sway – songwriting (track 10)
- The Buchanans – production (track 11)
- Wizzo Buchanan – songwriting, production (track 11)
- Cory Buchanan – co-production (track 11)
- Sammy Fain – songwriting (track 11)
- Irving Kahal – songwriting (track 11)
- John Legend – songwriting (track 12)
- Reginald "Syience" Perry – production (track 12)
- Gabe Robles – mixing assistance (track 12)
- Warren Babson – mixing assistance (track 12); recording (track 12)
- Pharrell Williams – songwriting (track 13)
- Chad Hugo – songwriting (track 13)
- The Neptunes – production (track 13)
- Ramon Rivas – engineering assistance (track 13)
- Andrew Coleman – digital editing, recording (track 13)
- Fabian Marasciullo – mixing (track 13)
- Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – songwriting, production (track 14)
|
|
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[111] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Label | Format |
---|---|---|---|
Australia[citation needed] | March 4, 2011 | Warner Music Group | CD, digital download |
United Kingdom[112] | March 7, 2011 | Atlantic Records | |
France[113] | |||
United States[114] | March 8, 2011 | ||
Canada[115] | Warner Music Group | ||
Japan[116] | March 23, 2011 | ||
Germany[117] | April 29, 2011 | Atlantic Records | |
Austria[117] | |||
Switzerland[117] |
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External links
[edit]- Lasers at Metacritic
- LupeFiasco.com — Lupe Fiasco official website
- Lupe Fiasco Goes Mainstream — His Way — Lupe Fiasco interview with Details
- Interview: Lupe Fiasco Hates His Own Album — Lupe Fiasco interview with Complex
- Lupe Fiasco discusses the making of 'L.A.S.E.R.S.': 'It was destroying me' — Lupe Fiasco interview with the Chicago Tribune
- Lupe Fiasco: 'I am a hostage' – struggles through difficult creative process for new 'Lasers' album — Lupe Fiasco interview with the Chicago Sun-Times
- Lupe Fiasco: 'I have the right to speak out' — Lupe Fiasco interview with The Guardian
- Lupe Fiasco on Lasers, Lame Rap, and His Battles With the Music Industry — Lupe Fiasco interview with New York