Gone

"Gone"Song by Mikkey Halsted and Lupe Fiasco featuring Jim Lavigne
Released	April 4, 2012
Genre	Hip hop
Length	4:15
Songwriter(s)	Mikkey Halsted Wasalu Jaco
Producer(s)	D.A. Got That Dope
Media

"Gone" is a song by Mikkey Halsted and Lupe Fiasco, released on April 4, 2012, to raise awareness of gun violence. It features vocals from Jim Lavigne on the the hook, with production handled by David "D.A. Got That Dope" Doman.

In a statement, Halsted said:

In light of "37 SHOOTINGS, 46 VICTIMS & 9 MURDERS” during Chicago's first 'warm' weekend, the Trayvon travesty, 6-year old Aliyah Shell, and in honor of my cousins Ismail & Malik that were gunned down last summer…I felt as though this was the time to drop this song. Shouts to Lupe for helping me paint a vivid picture of what goes on everyday in Chicago and every other ghetto in America. Also, shouts to David 'D.A.' Doman & Jim LaVigne for providing us the perfect canvas to paint upon.Special Dedication to Blair Holt and the hundreds of CPS students lost to senseless violence.

WE CAN NO LONGER WAIT FOR OTHERS, SEEMINGLY UNAFFECTED BY OUR ISSUES, TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS FOR US. SPEAK OUT AND SAY SOMETHING, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO SOMETHING.

Synopsis

Chicago's reputation as a war zone paints the city with tears, blood and hopelessness to those in and outside city limits. The easy way out leads "entertainers" to endear themselves to the city's ills. Mikkey Halsted and Lupe Fiasco take the road less traveled and uncover the consequences of senseless gun violence on "Gone." Mikkey leads and deftly carries the record with tales of young lives cut short. Then Lupe's anchoring verse finds him as a paramedic desperately trying to save a victim from becoming a statistic. There will be no Lupester jokes here folks. You'll hear signs of the Food & Liquor and The Cool here lyrically and the song's better for it.

Rappers, on another note, have been riding the social commentary wave as soon Trayvon's demise made headlines. It's a change from the usual party & bullshit. Yet these movements, much like activism from the streets to social networks, have a habit of subsiding when justice is served, denied or the story trails from public consciousness. I'll enjoy solid efforts like this when they come and I'm sure the artists involved had the best intentions in mind. Time will still tell if, on a greater scale, like-minded attempts manifest into an actual shift in rap music or reserve themselves to flavor of the month status.

Background

While this was their first collaboration, Fiasco and Halsted go way back. According to Fake Shore Drive, Chicago producer SC had a beat that both rappers used. Fiasco was the first to pay for it, which was used on his song "Lupe the Killer" from his 2006 mixtape, Fahrenheit 1/15 Part II: Revenge of the Nerds. Halsted's "Homicide" remained in the vaults until 2008. SC said of the two songs, "I loved both versions! Although, I never actually owned a copy of Mikkey's version, I was aware of it because he played it for me at United Technique studio. From what I remember it was dope as shit. Lupe's version threw me off when I first heard it—his wordplay was bananas. However, I didn't understand what the hell he was talkin' about. My buddy explained to me that he was 'murderin' the beat.' So, really, I like them both."

On October 29, 2009, Fiasco held a homecoming concert, Remember 2 Smile, in Chicago. Halsted was brought out for the performance of "Liquor Store".

Lyrics

"Gone"

[Hook: Jim Lavigne]
When them bullets come out of the gun
And you're standing where there's nowhere to run
You're gone, you're gone, you're gone
You're gone, you're gone

[Verse 1: Mikkey Halsted]
Famous warriors on Peoria, mean on Green
Strangling men on Sangamon cannot intervene
Blood stay pouring on Morgan I'm stuck in between
Rock and hard place forced to keep the Glock by the spleen
This is rag-town wild 100 section
You could hear a pin drop when the when the folks is in a session
Only 13 when the G first blessed 'em
Gave him all of his slit and a black Smith and Wesson
He reppin', feeling like a veteran
High school, feeling like a king amongst the peasants
Four corner hustlers making sure he feel threatened
He ain't into wrestlin', shorty got a weapon
They keep sayin' what they gone do when they catch him
Not knowing what he snuck past the metal detectors, he reckless
Damn, they caught him on the bus
Shorty ain't think, shorty just bust

[Hook: Jim Lavigne]
When them bullets come out of the gun
And you're standing where there's nowhere to run
You're gone, you're gone, you're gone
You're gone, you're gone

[Verse 2: Mikkey Halsted]
On the corner, crack spot, hat cocked
To the left, selling death out of black tops
Over East, Kofax, that block
Off the five, terror town, it's that hot
That n***a, right there, [?]
Sipping lean, sizzurp and that pop
Baby cryin', cop sirens in the backdrop
Opposition keeps up, damn you heard that shot
(Shawty duck!)
He was stuck, blood spilled on the ground like his Crush
He's feeling cold to the touch, n***a hush
Don't speak, it's looking bleak for 'em
Looking like the Grim Reaper finna reach for 'em
Jesus Christ, we need you to intercede for 'em
After father couldn't [?] for 'em

[Hook: Jim Lavigne]
When them bullets come out of the gun
And you're standing where there's nowhere to run
You're gone, you're gone, you're gone
You're gone, you're gone

[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
Now I got 'em, back of the ambulance tryna to stop 'em
From stoppin', but he's shockin'
No other choice but to shock him, blood pressure droppin'
But he's a fighter, he's a boxer
Unless he wants to leave Ali's his only option
He sees the butterflies but tryna keep him conscience
His oxygen flow constant, it's just a consequence
And I've chauferred many and barely saved any
And I say he's about 20, not a bad paramedic they just good with the semis
So I don't feel bad, I gave everything in me
To bring him back to life, now I see his light dimming
Feel his soul slipping, he's all done
Turn the sirens off, we just lost one