Dizamn. It doesn’t look like Lupe is too happy about the “Shining Down” leak, that happened very early this morning (just after midnight). Now, when I received the email with the track attached, I figured this was a sanctioned leak, since I’d been hearing the chatter over the past few days that “Shining Down” was set to drop on Tuesday. So me thinking it’s good to go, I got up from my deep sleep to put it up, being as Lupe is one of Chicago’s biggest artists ever, and the people have been patiently waiting on this single.
So by the time I wake up this morning, I received an email from someone within the FNF camp asking me and a handful of other blogs to remove the download links. I obviously honor these requests from any artist of any caliber, and immediately removed the link. I’m not in the business of pissing off Chicago artists in favor of gaining some traffic, because after all, I’m trying to build with these people, not turn them away.
Just a few minutes ago, Lupe himself hit the LupEnd blog to discuss the leak of “Shining Down”, the Fake Shore Drive leaks that have taken place over the last year, and a handful of other things. It appears his email was hacked somehow and that’s how the UNFINISHED track hit the internet this morning. I can understand how irate Lu was that this track leaked, but once it’s out, it’s almost impossible to shut it down. Especially when it’s someone like Lupe. Like eskay said, I respect FNF asking us to take it down rather that just having their lawyers shot us cease and desist letters, and it’s unfortunate, that artists have to deal with their material leaking out ahead of schedule. It’s all around a bad situation.
That being said, over the past few days a few Lupe tracks have leaked, the first being “Fire”, and I’m not even sure who leaked the No DJ version of that song; it definitely wasn’t me, and the track he did that’s to be featured on Wildstyle’s mixtape. Either way, Lupe clarified in his post, that it’s all love over the old leaked tracks that have come from FSD. He even discusses when we talked at the Coca Cola concert many months ago. So despite how much people love to tell me that “Lupe hates me and the site”, it seems to be all love. He’ll probably be happy to see that the well is dry for my unreleased Lupe tracks, but I’m sure there are others in existence:
3. FAKE SHORE DRIVES “UNRELEASED” RECORDS COME FROM MY OLD PRODUCERS WHO HAVE MY OLD HARD DRIVES. I DONT AGREE WITH THAT SHIT OR CO-SIGN IT AT ALL ITS THE REASON I STOPPED DOING MIXTAPES AND I TOLD ANDREW THIS WHEN WE MET IN CHICAGO AT THE COCA-COLA TOUR SHOW AND HE THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE ALL PISSED BUT IT WAS ALL LOVE AND I TOLD HIM I KNOW WHERE HE’S GETTING THOSE RECORDS FROM AND HE AINT GOT WORRY ABOUT ME HE GOTTA WORRY ABOUT ATLANTIC OR ARISTA OR THE PUBLISHERS OF THOSE VERY “UNCLEARED AND UNCLEARABLE” SAMPLES.
So enough blabbing from me, hit the jump to read Lu’s full statement:
what up ya’ll…Lupe here…first lemme make a few things very clear.
1. I love the fansite alot i think its dope…i feel flattered that i have so many people interested and in support of my music and the messages that i try to stand for…and not just me but for Hey Champ and the crew and damn near anybody who even resembles me…you gives give them shine and i commend you for that.
2. I DONT LEAK MY OWN RECORDS!!! I’M NOT A FAN OF LEAKING RECORDS OR OF DOWNLOADING!!! My entire first album leaked and possibly cost me from going platinum my first time out as the final estimates of how many people actually downloaded that album illegally was well over half a million. So how do u think i feel that everytime i come to this site where my “fans” are i see you putting up links to download my records???…I dont care about the other sites. I care about where my real fans are supposed to be active. If you come across it and you like it and keep it to yourself thats all cool with me but to make it where as other people are able to download it in a public forum is honestly an insult to me. Especially because of how much i love you guys. that shit is kinda like a slap in the face.
3. FAKE SHORE DRIVES “UNRELEASED” RECORDS COME FROM MY OLD PRODUCERS WHO HAVE MY OLD HARD DRIVES. I DONT AGREE WITH THAT SHIT OR CO-SIGN IT AT ALL ITS THE REASON I STOPPED DOING MIXTAPES AND I TOLD ANDREW THIS WHEN WE MET IN CHICAGO AT THE COCA-COLA TOUR SHOW AND HE THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE ALL PISSED BUT IT WAS ALL LOVE AND I TOLD HIM I KNOW WHERE HE’S GETTING THOSE RECORDS FROM AND HE AINT GOT WORRY ABOUT ME HE GOTTA WORRY ABOUT ATLANTIC OR ARISTA OR THE PUBLISHERS OF THOSE VERY “UNCLEARED AND UNCLEARABLE” SAMPLES.
Everytime i get the urge to do something new for my fans I go online and see “new unreleased lupe” from 6 years ago and i shrug and just say fuck it. Things like that fuck up the real plans and the mood. You dont just throw out bunch of records for the sake of having a bunch of records out. I dont operate like that as an artist. Some records aren’t even meant to come out.
4. When we were talking about who should have first rights to new shit when we do officially “leak” something the only two sites that came up was LupEnd Blog and Nahright. Thats big whether you know that or not. You have a direct relationship with the artist you rock with who puts your name in the hat for everything that involves him online.
5. Someone hacked my email. I was about to fire my entire staff and cut off relationships over shining down leaking last night. Bun B hit me and was like “the records dope” and i was like “what record?” nobody even has it. the only possible explanation is my email chain with the mix studio (which is air tight…the studio that is) was hacked and thats where the record came from.
Lastly, the album is fucking ridiculous. I dont like to brag or shit like that but the album is sooooo fucking crazy at this point 95% done. and its all balls to the wall fire. I have the experience and the freedom now to make what i think will be the best received album of my career.
Lupe in the club??? Blasphemy!!!!
We’re Not Losers…
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