Fiasco Friday

[Maestro]

There is a large movement forming all around the world, a group of people hungry for intelligent music. As a generation, we refuse to be slaves to commercial radio and the musical power-grab by large corporations. Music is one of the most important tools of expression and is a massive platform for the spread of ideas. This growing faction of global youth is sick and tired of substance-less music that encourages a society built on materialism, sexism, ignorance, and a false sense of rebellion without a cause. Politically and socially conscious hip-hop has been a staple in music since its creation in the 1970s. But sadly, that major portion of hip-hop has drastically declined and is barely breathing in comparison to the sex-driven rap of 2010. A substantial reason for this change is that major music corporations, much like yours, reward mediocre artists for putting out repetitive music instead of encouraging creativity and diversity. These money hungry music tyrants demand artists constantly put out status-quo music that never challenges the system. Few artists are bold enough to still have a strong, intelligent, hip-hop sound. One of those artists is Wasalu Muhammad Jaco , or Lupe Fiasco.

Mr. Fiasco exploded on the hip-hop scene with “Food and Liquor” and “The Cool”. Both are considered some of the best hip-hop albums of the last ten years. Then, in 2009, Lupe Fiasco stated his next CD would be Lasers. Lupe stated the album was done and in the hands of Atlantic. Fast forward to Summer 2010. Your company still refused to release the Lasers CD. And after prolonged periods of silence, Lupe Fiasco fans worldwide created, circulated, and delivered a 28,000 signature petition to Atlantic. The first, and only, response from your company was, via Twitter, “#lasers is coming folks.” That was four months ago. As Lupe Fiasco fans, we felt personally disrespected by your curt response and inaction.

On September 19, 2010 on the Kanye Live Forum in the Lupe Fiasco section, forum posters began brainstorming the idea for a rally at Atlantic’ New York Headquarters. Within hours, an official Facebook group was created and the official event name “Fiasco Friday” for October 15th was created. As the group and the forum thread began attracting more attention and activity, members began emailing blogs and websites with the information. On September 20, over fifteen blogs, forums, and websites posted the protest information. The Twitter hashtag #fiascofriday started making noise on Twitter, and the group and thread experienced exponential growth. On September 21, Lupe Fiasco himself tweeted he will be in attendance on October 15th. On September 22, the facebook group eclipsed 500+ members and more websites posted the information. Shirts and hoodies were being created, carpool trips began organizing so supporters out of the tri-state area could attend, and official legal permits were being acquired.

If we don’t receive a Lasers release date before October 15th, we will organize in mass. This protest represents the angered Lupe Fiasco fans who want the new Lasers material, the rebellious youth resistant of big corporations now controlling music, hip-hop fans who are fed up with senseless music and lack of meaning, politically active and socially relevant people, music fans looking for diversity, and average people looking for an artist to relate with. We are sick of the plague of ill-inspired lyrics with repetitive song structure and meaning that corrupts our corporation run radio stations. This is not a fringe, small group of people: it’s an intelligent, calculated rebellion of Atlantic’s decisions. This message, and the music of Lupe Fiasco, will not be stopped. See you on the 15th.

“you should protest, yeah, you should picket me.”
-Lupe Fiasco (off “I’m Beaming” from Lasers)

Sincerely,
The members of the October 15th Lasers Protest “Fiasco Friday”

In short, there is a protest going down on the 15th of October, in New York at the Atlantic Records HQ.

Edit: Lupe is attending

Lupe Fiasco ‎#FiascoFriday huh?!?...well if y'all there...I guess I gotta be there too! Ha! Leggo!

 

[Fox1994]

Coolio. Too bad I can't attend.

 

[Maestro]

Coolio. Too bad I can't attend.

Yeah me neither, but hell hopefully seeing this will push Atlantic to release it.