New Music: Lupe Fiasco - 'Kneelin' on Needles'
Shortly after Kendrick Lamar unleashed “HUMBLE.” Lupe Fiasco references the K-Dot single on “Kneelin’ on Needles,” his latest loose cut.
Over a piano-laden instrumental, the Chicago MC speaks about his forthcoming projects while nodding to King Kendrick, Big K.R.I.T., and Mickey Factz. “DROGAS Light, DROGAS,” he raps. “And I might drop SKULLS as an art show / K-Dot wants stretch marks / I wanna own everything that’s west of the best parts / K.R.I.T., everything from the legs down / Mickey Factz, everything where the neck starts / Necklace, head, heart, go!”
Those aren’t the only MCs referenced. Later, he adds: “Fuck, be more like Chance / Solo acts, be more like bands / Adversaries, be more like fans / BDs and GDs, be more like fam.”
After calling for peace amongst gangs, Lu references Colin Kaepernick, the NFL star who was criticized for protesting the national anthem last season, and whose number appears on the song’s artwork. “It’s not about natural ability,” he rhymes. “You would think that Kaep took a shat on the Statue of Liberty / Goddamn.”
#KneelinOnNeedles 🙏🏾@Kaepernick7 pic.twitter.com/olhH92RpDC
— DROGASLight Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) April 1, 2017
Finally, Fiasco adds a few words about President Donald Trump. “I know I’m weird, but ni**a, it’s real,” he raps. “Better to hear it from a ni**a like Lu / Before you hear it from a ni**a like Trump / Talking to a ni**a like you.”
Last month, Lupe unleashed “ANKH:HER.” The month prior, he dropped his DROGAS Light album. He’s expected to release at least two more projects this year.
Listen to “Kneelin’ on Needles” below.