You're almost sitting on the forefront of a war for the very pulse that runs through the spirit of Hip Hop. You're keeping that pulse on rhythm.

In the midst of an era where almost every new HIT SINGLE is a glorifying ode to criminality and disassociation from decency, where the highest values upheld by contemporary "rappers" are materialistic and self-degrading to the black culture, you're oh-so subtly poking holes through the gaudy cover of current rap music.

You're getting the message through to a lot of people, most importantly the youth of America, that you don't need to sell drugs, disrespect women, and worship money to be a winner. You project VALUES. You exemplify and exalt intelligence, knowledge, determination, decency, honor, respect, tolerance, understanding, responsibility, and love. You do all this AND you maintain your cool. You do it with uncanny skill, uncanny consistency, and uncanny charisma.

You're making money in a capitalistic society, so you've succeeded in that most basic pursuit of life. But you've done SO MUCH MORE.

A lot of hip hop artists are fighting for the same cause, and I know I don't have to name them to you, but few of them are getting the same coverage and attention. That makes you the Champion, Lu.

Before you there was Kanye West, and no disrespect to him, but his message seems to have changed a bit from the days of College Dropout. He has, what, five new songs that are simply audio portraits of Emperor West? He seems to be retiring from the fight, and perhaps I should slow my accusations and wait to see whether or not he'll continue to glorify materialism and basic hedonism, but I won't digress any further.

My point is, and I know you feel me on this, music takes whatever responsibilities its present society requires of it. During the great wars, European composers wrote masterpieces to console the pain of atrocious tragedy and to embolden the will of their respective peoples. The slaves of early America sang songs to strengthen their resolve and help them survive. Nowadays, I believe that our greatest enemy as a society is complacency and stupidity.

Rick Ross manufactures a lifestyle of drug-trafficking and criminal activities in order to be a role model for young blacks and he SUCCEEDS? In the result of his exposure, a lot of those fans he lost will only see him as failing to reach a standard that he and others like him (50 Cent, Lil Wayne, etc.) helped to elevate. That standard is, without a doubt, counter-productive to the flourishing of black culture, and with it, all cultures in America. If one of us is held back, we're all held back.

Today, the cause behind our art, for you, your music, for me (and to a far lesser extent) my writing, is the strengthening of character. Open their eyes! Life is beautiful and education paints everything in color! Higher learning is everything! The pen is mightier than the sword!

Your music is more than 2 bucks from every CD sold. It even goes beyond your own sheer love of creation and imagination. Your music is a vehicle of progress in our society. It leads a generation of flowering, beautiful minds into the future. It suggests the possibility of a BETTER WORLD. What more can any man hope to achieve? What better cause is there than that?

I know we can't outright defeat poverty and racism, and those things will probably always be a problem. But every SINGLE person you affect, who hears what you're saying and receives that inspiration to better themselves in a wholesome and constructive way is an IMMENSE victory for you and for the world.

So for God's sake, man, keep on keeping on. No admonishment or correction. Do what you're doing. Keep it pure, keep it real, don't give up, don't falter. Just know that when the shit you're doing is GENUINE, its value makes all the money in the world obsolete. Well, you know that.

FnF up!

wow you're a good writer man.

My only fear in this issue is that in saving hip-hop's 'life' Lupe may become the embodiment of everything he eschews. We've all seen it happen before, and the framework is already in place. I read more and more media casting Lupe as an artist being driven insane, or worse: one driven by label deals, which is worrisome.

nice piece

this was a refreshing read...