"I keep coming out with battle raps and theyβre just pouring out of me. Like Wu-Tang stuff, but really neat, very beautifully alliterated little battle raps. So next time you wanna come for me and have a battle rap-off, Iβm gonna kill you. Because Iβm a samurai." - Amy Winehouse (Quote via Amy)
The idea of Amy Winehouse as a battle rapper might seem like an odd hypothetical to many, but for Lupe Fiasco, it served as the muse for his ninth studio album, Samurai. Released on June 28, 2024, Samurai might be Lupe's shortest album to date, but it's certainly not lacking in depth or complexity. This isn't a biographical piece on Winehouse, nor does it require listeners to have prior knowledge of her life to appreciate the work. Lupe himself explained in an interview with Rolling Stone, "I wouldn't dare try to rewrite or even postscript her legacy in any way other than just imagine everything like, 'Yo, what if she was a battle rapper?'" It began as a single portrait but unintentionally evolved into a full album. (Lupe Fiasco - Rolling Stone)
Initially conceived as a modest project, Lupe, with the help of the album's main producer Soundtrakk, expanded this concept into a vivid narrative.
Review
The first single and title track, "Samurai," lays out the scenario where Amy Winehouse transitions into a battle rapper.
"I got these, really neat (What you got? Huh, uh) Very beautifully alliterated (Yeah, yeah, yeah) Little battle raps for you (Talk to 'em like, c'mon) So come on through."
In this verse, Lupe directly references Winehouse's quote about becoming a battle rapper, setting the stage for the album's theme. He evokes Winehouse's image with lines like "Big eyes looking like skies in binoculars," alluding to her iconic eyeliner use, which she employed to captivate audiences. Another line, "a one-woman gala, glamorized Just without the glamor of the gala ties," highlights her natural ability to create a larger-than-life presence. These lyrics paint Winehouse as the magnetic figure she was in real life.
"Mumble Rap," the second track, has a darker, dreamier vibe that aligns with its theme. Here, we see Amy possessed by the art of battle rapping:
"Everything you do would, now, be in another art" and "Cause every time she went to chat, her mouth begat a rhyme, now."
The first bar indicates a transformation of Amy's artistic expression, while the second suggests she's now so consumed by rapping that it's all she can do. This ties into the song's title, "Mumble Rap," as she struggles with her newfound rap identity, leading to mumbled verses.
In the third verse, Amy fully embodies her role as a battle rapper, with clarity and aggression:
"I protect and predict what the next going to flip. I address, then I rip, get respect, then I dip I don't live in the past, I finesse and forgive. (Peace, oh) (Peace, peace, bars) But don't make me resurrect up in this (Oh)"
The song concludes with the sound of crowd cheers, indicating Amy's first victory in a battle, affirming her new status:
"I've won, many things I've done, but this one here, this one takes the cake (This one takes the cake)"
This leads into "Cake," the second single and third track, which serves as a victory lap. Here, Lupe showcases his lyrical prowess through Winehouse's character:
"Well, did he do it or didn't she? Who are you mentioning? Lu will duel a dual identity, dueling enemies"
This track is more lyrically dense than its predecessors, illustrating Winehouse's evolution as a battle rapper while also reflecting Lupe's own identity within the narrative.
"Palaces" then shifts the focus to the vulnerabilities that come with being at the top:
"Fireworks are not a match for a star. And fire hurts, burns, blackens, and scars."
This line metaphorically compares Winehouse's stardom to fireworks, beautiful yet fleeting, hinting at the personal cost of fame.
"No. 1 Headband," the fifth track, delves into Amy's quest to be recognized as the best in the rap game, drawing from the symbolic Number One Headband from Afro Samurai.
The narrative then pivots with "Big Foot," where Amy confronts the downsides of fame and the waning of her popularity:
"Front row the only row, the show sold nothin'" and "Or second-guessing actions up on stage, in case they laugh."
These lines explore the insecurities and pain of a fading career, yet the song's title suggests Amy's lasting impact on the rap scene, much like her real-life legacy.
"Outside," my least favorite track, seems to be about Amy stepping away from the rap scene:
"Wait for me outside, I'll be gold. Wait for me outside, put 'em on hold. I'll be there in a minute, yeah. So just wait for me outside. I'm calm, but I'm finished"
This song signifies her retirement from battling, reflecting on her journey.
The album concludes with "Til Eternity," where Lupe steps back into his own shoes, reflecting on his career:
"And they say β yeah That's just the half of it, you know what I'm saying?" and "To ask your doctor 'Who's Wasalu?' to the game that you're used to."
This line shows Lupe contemplating his own legacy and identity, paralleling the narrative arc of Amy's character. The album wraps up with:
"What if we were dancers, yeah And we didn't have any answers, no But life gave us things that we could see? Yeah We could be, yeah You and me, yeah 'Til eternity, yeah"
The ending chorus feels like a perfect closure, tying together themes of legacy, identity, and the eternal nature of artistic expression.
