The Concept Album:
I took that idea from a song I did on the last album (Food and Liquor) called The Cool it’s about someone who comes back from the grave. I had to put him in a story line because I’m a writer first- rapper second.
I used the characters as vessels for things I couldn’t talk about (as myself). It was better for stuff to come from the first person.
The Story
When ever I play with the story I imagine it as animation as Japanese anime or like The Matrix. The Game (character) is inspired by Frankenstein and a lot of the sub-stories some from watching a lot of psychological thrillers and Steven King films.
The Cool Continues
This gives you more things to do out side of the album with marketing and presentation. I was more inspired by movies than other music when coming up with these characters and the stories.
Now I can do toys- It’s a creative franchise as well as an album
Music
As a teen I listened to Nas, a lot of West Coast rappers like Snoop Dogg-then it was Wu Tang and Mobb Deep. It hasn’t changed. I listen to a bit of everybody on the hip hop side.
Now I listen to stuff I missed when I was growing up in the hood like techno and rock.
Famous Friends
I met Kanye before he was famous so I watched him become a celebrity. We are jumping off with CRS (Lupe/Pharrel and Kanye’s group) on the Glow In The Dark tour in the US. There’s more coming!
Jay-Z was one of the earliest people I got to meet and do business with. It was a shock to see that Jay-Z answered his own door! I knocked on the door and it was him.
I met Snoop (who features on his track High Definition) at a show for Pharrell (Williams- another friend) and it was a weird situation.
He was driving a truck with Warren G in the passenger seat and called me over. That was so cool – I was starstruck.
UK Artists
I’m a big Thom Yorke fan more than a Radiohead fan. I was listening to the radio and heard The Eraser (which CRS remixed as US Placers) so I went back and got all his stuff.
I love Unkle too. I was working closely with some of James Lavelle’s associates and I was a fan so I reached out. I said I want to do a song with Unkle and I have (Hello/Goodbye on The Cool).
From the UK I like Sway and Estelle up to people like Ian Brown. I’m a big Ian Brown fan- FEAR is one of my favorite songs of all time. I always find myself discovering new rock or techno when I’m in the UK.
I'm a HUGE anime fan as well.. its kool that that's how Lupe designs his songs..
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