Lupe Fiasco Believes He's on Track to Be the Greatest Lyricist of All Time

"...the only thing left is to be the GOAT Lyricist & that’s the pace I’m on."

Lupe Fiasco
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Lupe Fiasco performs while wearing a Detroit Tigers Baseball jersey at St. Andrews Hall on April 25, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)

Lupe Fiasco

On Friday afternoon Lupe Fiasco stated that, though "he doesn't make the best music and never will," he does believe that he's an all-time great lyricist who could end up as the all-time great lyricist when he hangs his mic up for good. That prognostication came at the end of a roughly 15-20 tweet-long thread, which the rapper began by stating that the 2007 single "Dumb It Down" was originally supposed to be called "Space Traveling."

Dumb it down was initially called “Space Traveling” and was meant to be a stream of consciousness bar fest. My A&R didn’t like the hook

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

So we changed the hook to “Dumb It Down” to balance out how deep the verses were. It was a huge impact on rap at the time. No regrets.

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

From there he went on to talk about a career highlight, which came about when he met Jay Z:

Once I met Jay-Z and he said I was nice. I was actually done with rap. My initial passions have always been Science and theoretical physics

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

This was probably about 2003. I was always comfortable in my own skin & hated everything about the music biz. So once I got my Jay-z co-sign

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

Who was unquestionably my favorite rapper at the time. It wasn’t anything left for me personally that I wanted to achieve as a rapper

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

From there he transitioned into his personal take on his career:

I never felt I was the best but I knew that I had moments of unquestioned brilliance that earned my place among the rappers I respected

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

People talk as if I’m overrated or underrated. I always say you can always find something about me that you will like and things you’ll hate

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

Which brought him to the topic of his lyrics/journalists:

But when it comes 2 lyrics (which is the ONLY thing I care about) you’d be very hard pressed 2say I’m not one of the best ever #TBE for real

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

I don’t say that to boast just a recognition of the work I’ve put in on the pen going on nearly 20 years non stop.

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

I dont make the best “music” & I never will. Cuz I don’t really care about music. I care about bars. My first raps werent even wrote 2 music

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

Outside of that I time to time try to make songs that uplift and inspire and inform. I feels it’s my redemption from running the streets

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

The L’s I take I look at as my earthly karma for my past. So I humbly accept that without too much protest.

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

But my strife with Atlantic was real. My getting blackballed for being political is real. For standing up to the journalists & bullshitters

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

All that was very real and it continues to this day. The only thing that gives me motivation is my fans and my bars. & that’s all I need 👍🏾

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

He capped it with this prediction:

I have nearly every accolade there is to have in the music business the only thing left is to be the GOAT Lyricist & that’s the pace I’m on

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

Before tweeting out a few more times on the subject, including some C/C+ fan photoshops:

Me with a goat. #TBE pic.twitter.com/qxd38VyNkb

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

pic.twitter.com/921u7A3D1Z

— Greg Rosalsky (@elliswonk) October 27, 2017

#GoatPace 🐐

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

Can one of y’all make me a logo of a Goat in Jordan’s running on a track that says “I’m On Goat Pace”...🙏🏾 I’m not good at drawing 😩

— “DRILL MUSIC IN ZION” Out Now! (@LupeFiasco) October 27, 2017

your wish is my command,sir lupe pic.twitter.com/NRLbIHuHRG

— go (@goodplanb) October 27, 2017

Missed the phrase >_< pic.twitter.com/u9d7ECOGYv

— Rizwaan (@RizwaanAkhtar91) October 27, 2017

We'll see if Lupe will be known as the greatest when the dust settles, but he does have some tough competiton.  

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