"Never Forget You" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, the twelfth and final track from his third studio album, Lasers (2011), on the standard edition. It features guest vocals from American R&B recording artist John Legend. The two performed the song live at the album's release concert on March 7, 2011, at Webster Hall in New York City. Leaning toward a pop-like sound, Fiasco reminisces about the good days from his past, and in the third verse, acknowledges his late father, Gregory Jaco.
Fiasco said of the track, "[It was] another record I had nothing to do with—which became another bargaining chip, like, 'Yo, after '[The] Show Goes On' there's going to be this other record that you had nothing to do with.' And I know John Legend, he's a cool dude. But it was just a record he had sitting around and Exec A or Exec B heard it, and they were like, 'Oh yeah! We're going to put this on Lupe.' And it wasn't like, 'Hey Lupe, do you like this song?' it was like, 'You got to do this record.' At that point, I had already done ten records [the same way]. It was like I'd fly out from whatever spot I'm vacationing in, cut these records, and fly back."[1]
Background[]
On November 18, 2010, "Never Forget You" leaked online in full quality to the blogosphere, with speculation that it was a track from Lasers.[2] Later, on February 16, 2011, those who pre-ordered the album on iTunes instantly received the songs "Never Forget You," "The Show Goes On," and "Words I Never Said."[3]
Critical reception[]
Nathan Slavik from DJBooth described it as yet another "quasi-ballad," stating that "it's not good enough to think too much about."[4] HipHopDX editor Edwin Ortiz called it "reflective" and a highlight from the album,[5] while Rolling Stone also positively stated it "adds R&B honey to the otherwise somber" track.[6] Slant was less favorable, comparing the feature to a Bono hook,[7] while Paste's Jeff Levin in contrast felt that Legend "add[ed] raw charisma."[8]
Personnel[]
- Arden Altino – writing, co-production, keyboards
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
- Gabe Robles – mixing assistance
- Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis – writing, production
- Joe Peluso – additional engineering
- John "Legend" Stephens – featured vocals, writing
- Reginald "Syience" Perry – writing, production
- Serge "Sergical" Tsai – mixing, engineering
- Warren Babson – recording, mixing assistance
- Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – lead vocals, writing
Lyrics[]
[Hook: John Legend]
Take me to that old familiar place
Take me to memories we won't erase
Take me to all that we had
Good and the bad
I'll never forget you
I'll never let you go
I'll never forget you
I'll always remember, I hope you know
[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
Let the record reflect the records we set
Best foot forward with every step
And let's push towards it, never regress
And let's remember, if ever we get
Down, the places that we came from 'round
And all the good times on the bad side of town
The upside of bad, flip it upside down
Came from the bottom but we up high now
Believe, and from this view we achieved
We looked back at the rules we received
And how we broke those, dismantled and rewrote those
And the ghost still alive in the photos
Sounds of the summer, day and go wise
Cold wind blowin' through a city on fire
Moments of the past, came here to find you
Not to relive them, just to remind you
[Hook: John Legend]
Take me to that old familiar place
Take me to memories we won't erase
Take me to all that we had
Good and the bad
I'll never forget you
I'll never let you go
I'll never forget you
I'll always remember, I hope you know
[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
And let the evidence show, the future's so bright
It's never been more, not like tonight
We walk into the glow, right into the light
The past all around us, the time of our life
The first love kisses, the broke heart disses
This is just like a first-class ticket
Back, to the first written rap
The crumbled-up paper and the pen with no cap
The hand-me-down clothes and the unturned hat
The hookers on the corner and the kids sellin' crack
The needles in the yard where we used to play catch
Stories from the project we could never go at
Or to, these are shades of my youth
Trials of a child, everything truth
Moments of the past, comin' back to find us
Not to relive them, just to remind us
[Hook: John Legend]
Take me to that old familiar place
Take me to memories we won't erase
Take me to all that we had
Good and the bad
I'll never forget you
I'll never let you go
I'll never forget you
I'll always remember, I hope you know
[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
Everything cherished, remembered in my heart
So you will never perish, you will never part
I tell 'em all about you, drummin' in the park
We put you in the ground, but I see you in the stars
Go'n, take a bow, a round of applause
The best dad ever, always ready we are
Love always shines, that's how I'll find you
In case you forgot, I hope this reminds you
[Hook: John Legend]
Take me to that old familiar place
Take me to memories we won't erase
Take me to all that we had
Good and the bad
I'll never forget you
I'll never let you go
I'll never forget you
I'll always remember, I hope you know
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
References[]
- ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (February 28, 2011). "Interview: Lupe Fiasco Hates His Own Album". Complex.
- ↑ Dobbins, Amanda (November 18, 2010). "Hear Lupe Fiasco's 'Never Forget You,' featuring John Legend". Vulture.
- ↑ "New! Lupe Fiasco ft. John Legend - 'Never Forget You' (Stream Only)". Complex. February 17, 2011.
- ↑ Slavik, Nathan (March 8, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco - Lasers". DJBooth. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011.
- ↑ "Lupe Fiasco - Lasers". HipHopDX. March 4, 2011.
- ↑ Dolan, Jon (March 8, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco Lasers Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011.
- ↑ Cole, Matthew (March 11, 2011). "Review: Lupe Fiasco, Lasers". Slant Magazine.
- ↑ Levin, Jeff (March 22, 2011). "Lupe Fiasco: Lasers". Paste.
External links[]
- Never Forget You on Apple Music
- Never Forget You on YouTube
- Never Forget You on SoundCloud
- Never Forget You on Spotify
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | Editions | Promotion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||