Während sich die meisten Lupe Fiasco Fans am Montag Abend wahrscheinlich freuten mit „Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)„, der ersten Single seines für September angekündigten nächsten Albums „Food & Liquor 2„, endlich wieder etwas neues von dem wortgewandten MC aus Chicago zu hören, war eine Legende der alten Schule ganz und gar nicht begeistert. Nachdem der Song erst kurze Zeit im Internet kursierte, ließ Pete Rock auch schon seinem Unmut über Twitter freien Lauf.
Was war geschehen? Lupe hatte für den Beat von „Around My Way“ das selbe Sample benutzt wie einst Chocolate Boy Wonder Pete Rock für seinen legendären Track „T.R.O.Y. (They Remenisce Over You)“ asu dem Jahre 1992. Der Song, der auf dem ebenso legendären „Mecca & The Soul Brother„-Album, enthalten ist, thematisiert den Tod eines engen Freundes von Pete Rock und MC CL Smooth und wurde mit seinem markanten Bläser-Sample zu einem der einprägsamsten HipHop-Songs überhaupt:
Aufgrund der besonders persönlichen Note des Originals nahm Pete Rock nun Anstoss an dessen Neuauflage:
No disrespect to lupe fiasco and i like him alot but TROY should be left alone. Feel so violated,the beat is next to my heart and was made
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Outta anguish and pain. When it’s like that it should not be touched by no one!
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Man I’m a lupe fan and everything but TROY was my homie man. I think about him and Hev every fucking day!!!! Smh
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Auch an der technischen Umsetzung von „Around My Way“ fand Pete Rock keinen Gefallen:
Who ever Re-created that didn’t do a good job @ all. #nohate
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
This business can be so lame, sometimes I make beats blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back and still these cats can’t be original to
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Save their fucking life. #impissed
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
It’s pure fuckery yo,let’s that fucking song live man. That do over shit is fucking corny!!!! It sounds best just the way the fuck it iz.
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
So untalented and unoriginal. Makes me feel like I’m truly the best that ever did it. Yo hev and t-Roy I love and miss da shit outta y’all
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
U guys have been violated with no Vaseline. So fucked up this business smmfh!!! And I don’t care who got something to say about it, kiss my
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Entire black ass. #violationtodafullest
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Lame Ducks with absolutely no talent if u can’t make ur own hit. FOH
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
I’m not flattered @ all. Dat shit is wack, and the producer should be ashamed of his fuckin self. Smh
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
That record is dear to me yo fuck deez niggas!!!!
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
I wouldn’t feel a ways if it was anything else but not that. #feelmypain
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
I think lupe is a great artist, I’m that angry with him but it’s a major label idea. I can feel it.
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 21, 2012
Die Vermutung, dass Lupes Plattefirma hinter der Idee steckte, scheint allerdings nicht ganz zu zu treffen, wenn man Lupes Erläuterungen gegenüber Ruby Hornet zum Entstehungsprozess des Songs glauben darf:
„All the credit goes to my partner and manager Chill, he just felt like it was time to bring back a joint,“ he said. „Go back and take one of the iconic records of hip-hop and put a new spin on it and put it back out there. I spit on it a couple times before, some mixtape stuff back in the day, Chill felt it needed a bigger look than that.“
Bei einem Besuch der Morning Show des Radiosenders WGCI erklärte Lupe darüber hinaus, dass ihn Pete Rocks Reaktionen überrascht hätten, da man ihn vor der Veröffentlichung kontaktiert habe und er dem Song seinen Segen gegeben habe:
Die Deeskalationsmaßnahmen von Lupes Camp scheinen indes gefruchtet zu haben, den heute stimmte Pete Rock schon wieder deutlich versöhnlichere Töne an:
I just got off da phone lupe, we worked out our differences and we bout to get it in. Gonna be epic and we gonna give Troy and hev the
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 23, 2012
Proper respect they deserve and make history with lupe.
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) Mai 23, 2012
Das Sample, um das es hier geht, stammt übrigens aus dem Song „Today“ von Sänger Tom Scott und seiner Band The California Dreamers. Die entscheidende Stelle ist ab 1.36 min zu hören:
Hier noch einmal Lupe Fiascos „Around My Way (Freedom Ain’t Free)“ im Vergleich:
Update: Pete Rock hat sich nun mit einer umfassenden Stellungnahme an die Öffentlichkeit gewandt:
It?s true that Lupe Fiasco?s representative from Atlantic Records contacted me last fall and he did so while I was in mourning over the sudden death of my cousin Heavy D. I gave the representative a conditional ?yes? to use T.R.O.Y. for Lupe?s album but only based on the condition that I be involved on the project. It?s what I always say when approached by people who want to use that particular song. I was never contacted again. At no point was there any follow up from Atlantic Records. Now, the story gets twisted and it?s being said that I said ?yes.? The part about my conditions has been left out to make me seem like I?m a hypocrite. When I heard about the song again, it was done, completed, and playing on the radio?and that was Monday night.
It?s true that people have made T.R.O.Y. over. I can?t control what?s done with my work after it?s already out there but I can control who gets my blessings. Those who involve me and respect me in the process, get my blessings. Those who work behind my back ? but all the while putting up a front like I?m down with it ? don?t.I?m flattered that they wanted to remake my song and that they respect it for the classic that it is. I just think they should have talked to Atlantic Records to make sure things were done right. The biggest violation is from Atlantic Records but what can you expect? Labels are corporations and their whole point is to sell records. If they respect the artist in the process that would be nice, but they?re not required. For as political as Lupe as, I expected him to know that and to have hopefully made them more accountable. I?m surprised that he?s siding with the corporation on this.Technically, there was no crime committed with the release of Lupe?s version of my song. Technically, the song can be out there but I?m not talking about legalities. I?m asking: Where?s the respect for the code among artists? No ego, but I know my place in this game. I?m recognized as a legend and I accept that. But most of all, I?m a grown man. The love and admiration that people have for me as a producer and as a man of honor has been non-stop, consistent for over 20 years. That?s based on something that can?t be touched. My music and my character stands for itself. T.R.O.Y was a career-defining song has gotten me invited to the White House. It?s not just because people think the production is dope. It?s also because of what the song stands for. I want my music to touch people but I don?t want to be walked over or lied on in the process.I admit that my outburst on Monday night on Twitter was based on my reminiscing about Heav and Troy. I think about them every day. I apologize for being emotional about this. I had no intentions of hurting Lupe?s career. That?s not me. I?m known for building up not breaking down careers. Moving forward, I?m 100% in control and focused on what?s good.
