NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 11: Lupe Fiasco performs onstage during Hip Hop 50 Live at Yankee … [+] Stadium on August 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
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Lupe Fiasco showcases his lyrical prowess once more with an array of similes, metaphors, and internal rhymes in his latest single.
On Friday (June 7), Lupe Fiasco dropped “Cake,” the second single from his new album, Samurai . This track exemplifies top-tier hip-hop lyricism, with the Grammy award winner demonstrating his verbal mastery. Produced by Soundtrakk, the song hosts Fiasco celebrating his achievements and highlighting his exceptional skills while dismissing those who have attempted to undermine him.
Through his use of diverse literary concepts, rapping techniques, and impactful cultural and historical references, including Optimus, Kabbalist, and Vonnegut, Fiasco crafts a performance that continues to affirm his standing as one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists.
Standout Lyrics
“It’s a Kabbalist novelist inside of my esophagus”
Fiasco employs a metaphor, comparing a Kabbalist novelist to his lyrical prowess which lies within his esophagus. By referencing a Kabbalist, a practitioner of the Jewish mystical tradition Kabbalah, and a novelist, he uses allusion to suggest the profound and mystical quality of his lyrics.
“Ain’t no domino, on my dominance when I’m dropping this Janis Joplin droplets”
Referencing the renowned rock artist Janis Joplin, Fiasco draws a parallel to the lasting impact of his music. He uses an internal rhyme between “dominance” and “droplets,” and skillfully employs alliteration with the ‘d’ sounds in “domino,” “dominance,” and “dropping,” and the ‘j’ sound in “Janis Joplin.”
“Consuming the comments and then vomiting up the Vonnegut”
Fiasco shows his lack of concern for any negative remarks about his achievements by metaphorically comparing them to vomiting. He then cites Kurt Vonnegut, the celebrated American author heralded for his satire, implying that the critiques he faces are amusingly insignificant.
“Underneath your Posturepedic , possibly in the closet, it’s an Acropolis / Scary how I’m optimistically obstinate”
Fiasco’s metaphorical language implies a deeply concealed matter, as he refers to the mattress brand Posturepedic and a “closet” ultimately painting a vivid picture. He references the Acropolis, an ancient Greek landmark, to imply the matter’s weighty significance. The oxymoron “optimistically obstinate” combines hopefulness and stubbornness, adding complexity to his attitude and suggesting a determined yet positive view of his accomplishments.
“It sounds like the apocalypse mixed with Christopher Wallace’s / topics on top a obelisk”
Lu likens his explosive bars to the apocalypse, using a simile that alludes to the signature sound of Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G. Fiasco declares the highbrow nature of his lyrical content, suggesting its reach is like the top of an obelisk—the tall, four-sided pillar that once graced the entrances of ancient Egyptian temples.
Cover art for Lupe Fiasco’s 9th studio album, ‘Samurai.’
Lupe Fiasco/Instagram
“Rhyme is priming, it’s Optimus”
The dominantly internal rhyme within the line, using “priming” and “Optimus,” references Optimus Prime, the protagonist in Transformers. This allusion to Fiasco’s bars implies that the power of his rhymes establishes him as a leader in his age of rap.
“Pick up all the pieces, assemble like Avenger”
Fiasco takes a metaphoric approach to vividly depict his resilience. He likens his effort to gather the scattered pieces of his success and reassemble them, to the way the Avengers, the iconic Marvel Comics superhero team, come together. This ultimately alludes to his heroism in hip-hop lyricism.
“And my delivery shivers like Siberian areas”
Using the perfect simile, Fiasco likens his flow to one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth: Siberia. Hence the phrase “Siberian areas,” where cities like Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon are known for their temperatures often dropping below -50°C. Such bars guarantee to cause shivers, vividly painting the intense coldness of Lupe Fiasco’s work.
The music video for “Cake” was also released on Friday, showcasing Fiasco in a studio active in a trance-like performance of his iconic lyrical miracle rapping. This is the second single from Samurai, Fiasco’s ninth studio album, set to drop on June 28.
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